Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have put together similar starts to the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Both teams are 2-1-2 (W-D-L) and have traded frustrating results with encouraging ones.
Neither team has any glaring red flags in their statistical profiles, but there’s nothing that really jumps out and says either side looks like it could be on the cusp of a big run.
All of this is to say that these are two of the most difficult teams to project in the Premier League, so Sunday’s match between Man United and Tottenham should be quite fun to handicap.
Manchester United vs. Tottenham odds & pick
The similarities with Spurs and United don’t end at their identical records.
The two clubs boast essentially the same strengths and weaknesses, too.
You wouldn’t trust either side defensively, but they have heaps of attacking talent and can be lethal in transition.
These two teams rank third and fourth, respectively in expected goals created through five matches and while Manchester United has only scored five goals compared to Tottenham’s nine, you could just chalk that up to poor finishing luck as their xG sits at 9.4.
With two potent offenses going at suspect defenses, it’s pretty clear that bookmakers are going to guard against the over in this match.
The total is currently sitting at 3.5 and you have to pay -280 to bet the ‘Yes’ in the Both Teams to Score market. That’s way too steep of a number to pay.
Every signal in this match — the stats, the stylistic makeup of both teams and the betting markets — are telling us to expect it to be chaotic.
It could be a free-for-all, which means there is every chance that it turns into a bit of a blowout. A tight, 1-0 game in either direction feels unlikely.
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With that in mind, I’d look to an alternate spread on Tottenham as the best betting value in this contest.
This match looks like a coin flip and Spurs are the underdog, but the +180 moneyline isn’t an appealing price given how many different directions this contest can go.
So instead, I’ll take a shot on Spurs’ offense to be the story against a gettable Manchester United defense and back Spurs -1.5 at +390.
The Bet: Spurs -1.5 (+390, DraftKings)
