Man United vs Middlesbrough Preview: Team News, Predicted Line-ups, Betting Odds, Key Stats
Dec 30, 2016 at 1:44 PM
Manchester United are on red hot form at the moment, picked up their 4 consecutive league win thrashing Sunderland by a 3-1 margin. Jose Mourinho’s side had a turbulent start to the season look well settled and ready to challenge for a spot inside the top four of the league table. They are currently 6th in the league table and still 4 points short of the fourth-placed Arsenal.
Another big positive for the Red Devils is the scoring form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Big Swede has already netted 10 times in the Premier League this season and 5 of those has come in the last 5 matches.
Middlesbrough ended up losing by a narrow 1-0 margin in a cagey affair at Burnley on Boxing Day. This left them without a win in 8 away games since the 2-1 win at Sunderland on matchday 2 of the season. Moreover, they have now lost in 3 of their last 4 games and the fear of relegation is looming on the Teessiders. Middlesbrough are 15th in the league with 4 points separating them from the drop zone.
Team News
Manchester United – Manchester United will be looking forward to continuing their winning run in the league and in a bid do they do that they will not able to get the service of Luke Shaw yet again who has been nursing an injury for quite some time now. Wayne Rooney is also running against time to be fit for the match against Middlesbrough FC, and the chances are high that he might have to sit out yet again. Good news for the Manchester United fans is that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be once again fit for the upcoming will be in contention for a start against Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough – For Middlesbrough, Husband will perhaps be not able to make the starting eleven and Cristian Stuani is also expected to be benched after a not-so-convincing performance in the previous encounter against Burnley where they lost 1-0. Stewart Downing could get a first team call against Manchester United in the upcoming encounter in the English Premier League.
Predicted Lineup
Manchester United – De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Mkhitaryan, Herrera, Pogba, Mata/Rooney and Ibrahimovic
Middlesbrough – Valdés, Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Ramírez, Forshaw, De Roon, Downing and Negredo
Key Stats
Manchester United have won their last 4 matches in the Premier League.
Middlesbrough have failed to win their last 8 away matches in the Premier League.
Manchester United are unbeaten in 5 of their last 6 home games against Middlesbrough.
Betting Odds
Manchester United win – ¼
Draw – 5/1
Middlesbrough – 15/1
Prediction
The bookies are heavily favouring Manchester United to win here and we believe they will deliver it without a doubt. However, Middlesbrough are a team that could trouble the higher ranked teams with their ultra-defensive approach.
The Red Devils had just met a similar side in Sunderland few days ago and struggled to break through in earlier parts of the game. They were only able to utilise the space when Sunderland were chasing an equaliser in the final minutes.
Middlesbrough will struggle to win matches, but they are one of the toughest defence in the league to breach. They were beaten by more than 1 goal margin just twice in 18 league matches this season.
Manchester United 2-0 Middlesbrough