Aston Villa V Manchester Utd Betting Preview 14th August 2015

Aston Villa v Manchester United 14th August 2015 kick off 19.45 (UK)

Aston Villa were fortunate to come away with all three points against Bournemouth last Saturday. Villa were under the cosh for large parts of the first half and were lucky not to be a couple of goals down. However, their second half performance was much better and they deserved to get their goal  The loss of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph will certainly have blunted their attacking options but it was substitute -  Rudy  Gestede who scored the only goal and he looks to be a shrewd signing from Blackburn Rovers.Whether he is fit enough to make his full debut against Man Utd remains to be seen.

Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United started their campaign against Spurs in what was a very unconvincing performance. New boys Memphis Depay , Morgan Shneiderlin and Matteo Darmian all made their Premier League debuts. It was a disjointed and sloppy display typical with a team of new players trying to adjust to the pace of the Premiership. But it was Darmian who looked the most comfortable and assured with his debut and he could prove the be a very important acquisition for United. Bastian Schweisteiger came on with a half an hour to go and never looked a second out of place bossing the midfield like an experienced general.

These are two teams that like to play attacking football. Tim Sherwood has given Villa a new impetus since he took over late last season and like his team to play fast counter attacking football. Man Utd on the other hand like to keep possession and build up their attacks that way. Wayne Rooney - their main striker is always going to pop up and get you a goal. Abonglahor should play and hopefully Gestede starts for Villa.

My Betting Tip:

Aston Villa V Man Utd both teams to score @ 21/20 Coral Bookmakers

Stoke v Liverpool 16.00 Sunday 9th August 2015

Stoke v Liverpool 16.00 Sunday 9th August 2015

Okay, with two days before the 2015/16 Premier Leagues lets focus on Stoke Vs Liverpool on Sunday 9th August. This season will be make or break for Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool never recovered from the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and brought in players for big money  that under performed for the team. Players like Lovren, Moreno and Marckovic played well below form and will be have to make major improvements this season. These players have had a year to bed in to the hustle and bustle of Premier League football so there should be no excuses this term. Liverpool spent wisely this summer and seemed to have addressed positions that caused them problems last season. The arrival of Firminho Milner, Clyne and Benteke should have a positive influence on the team as a whole. 

Clyne is a terrific left back, a solid defender and attacker in one, Milner is grafter who likes to get forward and score goals while Firminho and Benteke look potential world class. 

Stoke are not to be taken lightly, they are a tough team to play against at home and it was this team that humiliated the reds on the final day of the season. Liverpool will still be smarting from that 6-1 humiliation but that was a dejected and dispirited performance with absolutely no heart whatsoever. I fully expect this Liverpool buoyed by its new signings to be entirely different opposition now. Rodgers will be keen to start the season better than last and knows that his managerial career is hanging by a thread-start bad and the knives will be out. Benteke scored an absolute blinder against Swindon Town last week and revels in this type of opposition. This is the type of physical encounter he does really well against as evidenced by his performances for Aston Villa last season.

Back Benteke to score anytime is a skinny 11/8 with Paddy Power so I am going to plump for these two bets at the better odds.


My Betting Tips:

Christian Benteke - First Goalscorer @ 9/2 with Paddy Power

Christian Benteke to score anytime and Liverpool to win @ 3/1 with Paddy Power.