United have only won one of their last six games but are still firm favourites to get the better of Watford, who were the first club to act this season when they brought in Claudio Ranieri to replace Xisco Munoz.
United will be desperate for a positive result ahead of meetings with Chelsea and Arsenal but sbobet88 casino have only managed six first-half goals this season so Draw HT/Man Utd FT at 17/5 is our opening Watford vs Man Utd prediction.
Watford Odds
Watford have lost three of their four games under Ranieri but there have been signs of improvements in defence.
Their two most recent defeats were both 1-0 and the Hornets were upset with the manner in which they conceded at Arsenal having put the ball out so an injured player could receive treatment.
Watford also had Juraj Kucka sent off late on but former England defender Danny Rose believes the Hornets are moving in the right direction.
“We kept going right until the end, even with 10 men,” he said. “A point may have been fair but that’s where we’re at now and I hope we can capitalise on such a good defensive display.
“It is very disappointing when you defend so well and concede a goal like we did but there’s not much we can do now except dust ourselves off.
“We have a foundation, a platform to build on defensively and if we keep playing like that we’ll pick up the points along the way.”
Ranieri’s men will focus on keeping it tight at the back once more, although United should have the quality to come out on top.
Looking at the Watford vs Man Utd odds, 7/5 for an away win and under 3.5 goals looks a solid pick.
Last Watford line-up: Foster, Rose, Nkoulou, Cathcart, Kiko, Tufan, Sissoko, Kucka, King, Sarr, Dennis.
Ozan Tufan will face a late fitness test after picking up a knock to the leg on international duty. Francisco Sierralta will miss out having suffered a hamstring injury in action with Chile.
Christian Kabasele (hamstring) and Ken Sema (knee) are both still out injured, while Juraj Kucka will miss out through suspension.
Manchester United Odds
United have had two weeks to put their Manchester derby defeat behind them and must quickly arrest the slump which has seen them slip to sixth in the table and nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
The 2-0 loss at home to City was more humiliating than the final score suggested and the season resumes with Solskjaer under pressure.
He has issues to contend with, though. Midfielder Paul Pogba is suspended and has also suffered a thigh injury during training with France.
Edinson Cavani was also sidelined for the City game with a tendon problem that also ruled him out of Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Bolivia.
United will once again look to Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the way and with so many of United’s attacking players out of form or unavailable, he looks a good bet at 9/5 to be the team’s first goalscorer as the last of our Watford vs Man Utd betting tips.
Last Man Utd line-up: De Gea, Lindelof, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Fernandes, McTominay, Ronaldo, Greenwood.
Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay withdrew from England and Scotland duty respectively while Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford did not join up with their squads due to injury concerns.
Paul Pogba would have missed this match through suspension either way but now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an injury suffered while with France, while Raphael Varane remains out.
Additional Watford vs Man Utd stats
PLAYER STATISTIC
1st half
Ismaïla Sarr Missed penalty 11′
19′ Yellow card Scott McTominay
Joshua King
(Assist: Emmanuel Dennis)
Goal 28′
Ismaïla Sarr
(Assist: Kiko Femenía)
Goal 44′
Imrân Louza Yellow card 45′
2nd half
50′ Goal Donny van de Beek
(Assist: Cristiano Ronaldo)
62′ Yellow card Harry Maguire
69′ Yellow-Red card Harry Maguire
João Pedro
(Assist: Emmanuel Dennis)
Goal 90+2′
Emmanuel Dennis
(Assist: Ben Foster)
Goal 90+6′
Emmanuel Dennis Yellow card 90+6′
MATCH STATISTIC
39
Possession
61
20
Total shots
9
7
Shots on target
3
6
Shots off target
5
7
Blocked shots
1
8
Corners
3
1
Offsides
4
7
Fouls
5