West Brom v Manchester United free betting tips: Best bets and Premier League preview

Football betting tips: Premier League

1pt Edinson Cavani to have 3+ shots on target at 5/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

West Brom v Manchester United

• 14:00 GMT on Sky Sports Premier League
• Match odds: Home 8/1 | Draw 17/4 | Away 2/7

“Manchester United. I still can’t work them out.”

That’s how I started last week’s preview. Since then the Red Devils have thrown away two leads in a 3-3 draw with Everton and stuttered and stumbled to an extra-time win against West Ham in the FA Cup.

Don’t get me wrong, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are second in the Premier League table for a reason, and they’re playing some of the best football at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

But I just wish I knew where I stood with them. Against West Brom, are they going to hit top gear like they did in their record-equalling 9-0 win over Southampton? Or will we see a repeat of the horror show that was their loss to bottom-side Sheffield United last month?

Manchester United may be inconsistent, but they’re worlds above their Sunday opponents who are one-note and overwhelmingly awful.

Since Sam Allardyce took charge no team has lost more games or conceded more goals than West Brom. The Baggies have tasted defeat in four of their last five, conceding 13 goals in the process.

And it’s their leaky defence - the worst in the league - who have been off-colour since December. Failure to hold onto leads against fellow strugglers Sheffield United and Fulham means Albion are now 11 points off safety, a gap that’s seemingly widening every week.

Manchester United are too short in the betting to warrant significant confidence, a price of 1/3, the same odds they failed to make against Sheffield United a few weeks ago, is just too slim.

I am intrigued by the jump from under 2.5 total goals at 11/8 to under 1.5 at 9/2. A 1-0 United win isn’t out of the question - it was the scoreline in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford - although West Brom haven’t been involved in a one-goal game since November 28.

Instead, I’ll be backing Edinson Cavani to have 3+ shots on target at the Hawthorns at a ludicrous 5/1 with Sky Bet.

The Uruguayan forward averages 2.67 shots per game with 1.11 on target according to Infogol. But in front of West Brom’s backline I believe he'll easily canter to three goal-bound efforts.

He was used as a substitute in United last game in the cup, I expect him to return to the number nine position in this one.

I’m struggling to find much value elsewhere which is usually the case for one-sided fixtures. If you are after a Hollywood bet though then how about Matheus Pereira to score first at 16/1 with BoyleSports.

The Brazilian has twice as many goals as the next highest scorer for the Baggies this season and is on penalty and free-kick duties too. If anybody was to break the deadlock for the hosts, it’d be him.

Score prediction: West Brom 0-2 Man Utd (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)

West Brom v Man Utd best bets

1pt Edinson Cavani to have 3+ shots on target at 5/1

Follow Sporting Life on social - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC

Related football content

• Transfer window: Done deals
• Transfer window: Latest updates
• Latest football previews and tips
• Sporting Life App: Android & iOS

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.