Manchester United restart their Premier League campaign with the visit of Nottingham Forest. James Cantrill previews the game, selecting a best bet.
Football betting tips: Premier League
2pts Manchester United to win (-1 handicap) at 10/11 (Sky Bet)
Manchester United return to top-flight action on Tuesday evening and face Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest.
Despite not playing in the league for over a month, Erik ten Hag has a lot of injuries to contend with, the majority of which are in central defence.
World Cup finalists Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are unavailable, Axel Tuanzebe is a long-term absentee and Harry Maguire was out with an illness for the Red Devils' Carabao Cup victory over Burnley on Wednesday.
If the latter remains unavailable, Casemiro may have to drop in alongside Victor Lindelof at the heart of the hosts' defence once again, a role he has played before at Real Madrid.
Even with this centre-back shortage, Manchester United are heavy favourites and rightly so.
Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Tuesday
TV Channel: Amazon Prime
Man Utd 2/7 | Draw 9/2 | Nottingham Forest 19/2
Pre-World Cup, Nottingham Forest had appeared to turn a corner, picking up eight points from seven games to lift them off the foot of the table, keeping clean sheets in 43% of their games over that period.
A 1-0 victory over Liverpool was the standout result, though that does look an anomaly when it comes to their games against the 'big six.'
In games away at the current top three - Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle - Steve Cooper's side did not pick up a single point, losing by an aggregate score line of 13-0 and generating an xG of just 1.67.
They were also beaten 2-0 when Tottenham came to the City Ground.
With this in mind, taking MANCHESTER UNITED with a -1 HANDICAP at a shade under evens looks like a great play here, this is a bet that has clicked in each of Forest's trips to the top sides.
It is also worth noting Cooper has injury issues of his own, with as many as seven first team regulars doubtful.
Dean Henderson, who ranks fourth in the division for saves made (50), is ineligible against his parent club and back-up keeper Wayne Hennessey is a considerable downgrade.
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest best bets and score prediction
- 2pts Manchester United to win -1 Handicap at 10/11 (Sky Bet)
Score prediction: Manchester United 3-0 Nottingham Forest (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
Odds correct at 1530 GMT (21/12/22)
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