Man United vs. Liverpool Odds
| Man United Odds | +200 |
| Liverpool Odds | +125 |
| Draw | +270 |
| Over/Under | 3.5 (+140 / -165) |
| Day | Time | Sunday | 11:30 a.m. ET |
| How To Watch | NBCSN | fuboTV |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute Soccer odds here. | |
On a day chock full of scintillating showdowns on the European soccer landscape, perhaps the most exciting match will take place Sunday at Old Trafford when Manchester United hosts Liverpool in a Premier League affair.
The Red Devils enter this meeting fresh off a stunning, 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Serie A outfit Atalanta in a midweek Champions League clash. Trailing 2-1 late in the second half, an equalizer from Harry Maguire and winner from Cristiano Ronaldo in a six-minute span bailed out embattled manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer and the club on home soil.
In contrast, the Reds proved once again why they're arguably one of the world's top-three clubs with a thrilling, 3-2 win at Spanish stalwart Atlético Madrid on Tuesday in the Spanish capital. Mohamed Salah recorded a brace, with his goals bookending a tally from Naby Keïta, to give the lead to the visitors.
Oddsmakers have tabbed Liverpool a comfortable +125 favorite on the three-way moneyline, with Manchester United coming in as the home underdog north of +200 odds at the majority of shops. The draw sits at +270 ahead of this contest that could set the tone for both clubs the rest of the season.
Ronaldo, Man United Flirting With Disaster
It might be overkill applauding Ronaldo and his world-class performances, but he continues to deliver week in, week out for the Red Devils. And if there's one player Solskjaer needs to thank if he survives this tumultuous season, it's the Portuguese star.
Had Ronaldo not delivered on his winner (see below) in the 81st minute, there's a good chance Solskjaer wouldn't be in his normal seat for this ultra-important game against Liverpool. And oddsmakers seem to agree, as they've tabbed him the front runner to be the next manager to leave his position.
This angle of Ronaldo’s late winner vs. Atalanta. SCENES 💥
(via @ManUtd)pic.twitter.com/N0wGVBTgeu
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 22, 2021
That aside, the Red Devils have a difficult task at hand, but have players capable of getting in behind the Reds' back line. They're sitting on 12.0 expected goals, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood pacing them with a team-best four goals each in league action.
Defensively, Manchester United has been subpar to say the least. The club has 11.0 xGA, which is the worst number in the advanced metric among the EPL's top-eight teams. That mediocre play is the reason why the Red Devils struggled against undermanned Atalanta and have gone winless in their last three league fixtures, including a 4-2 loss at Leicester City last Saturday.
Liverpool Offense Playing on Another Level
If you didn't know who the world's best player is at the moment, it's not the guy on the other team or the Argentine international at Paris Saint-Germain.
No, it's Mohamed Salah. The Reds' talisman has been in unbelievable form, scoring at least one goal in nine consecutive matches overall. He's played 11 matches this season, racking up an EPL-best 12 goals along the way. And his numbers against Manchester United of late have been spectacular, with the Egyptian international recording four goals in as many matches.
𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐰.@MoSalah breaks another club record ⚽ pic.twitter.com/UfJRsjLH1A
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 23, 2021
When it comes to the numbers, Liverpool has been dominating across the English top flight. The third-place club boasts a league-best 21.5 xG, which goes perfectly in unison with its 22 goals through eight matches.
The return to center back Virgil van Dijk has brought stability to the back line, which has led to just 8.6 xGA thus far. And that solid defensive play has generated a +12.9 xGDiff and stellar +1.62 xGDiff per 90 minutes.
Bottom line, Liverpool is built for a title run and has a shot at dethroning reigning champion Manchester City if everyone stays healthy. The Reds, who are the last unbeaten EPL side, hammered Watford in a 5-0 blowout in their last league confrontation.
Betting Analysis & Picks
My best advice for anyone wagering on this match? Don't overthink the numbers. Don't overthink the obvious. For me, it's as simple as that.
Liverpool is playing at another level at the moment, with the best player on the planet leading the way. On the other side, it's inconsistent disarray from a club that's underperforming on both the domestic and European fronts.
That said, I'm targeting two wagers in this match and both involve the Reds' vaunted attack. First, I'm backing Liverpool to clear 1.5 goals at -125 odds via DraftKings and will make it my top selection.
Salah and this offense are utterly potent, particularly on the road where they've scored at least three goals in all seven fixtures away from Anfield this season. And the kicker? They pushed four goals past the porous Manchester United defense the last time they battled at Old Trafford.
As for the second angle, I'm taking a swing at the Single Game Parlay of Both Teams to Score and the combined total going over 2.5 goals at -145 odds. For as strong as the Reds' offense has been, its defense has dealt with a few untimely lapses you wouldn't expect.
And let's face it. The Red Devils' issues aren't going forward, where they're averaging 2.0 goals per game.
Picks: Liverpool — Team Total Over 1.5 Goals (-125) | Single Game Parlay: Both Teams to Score & Total Over 2.5 Goals — Yes (-145)
