Bet of the Day: Man Utd v Spurs: Out of form and unreliable pair can't be trusted so back this 27/1 Bet Builder instead

Have Utd repeated the mistakes of the Solskjaer era?

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Saturday 10 October, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

When Manchester United turned to former fans' favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to pick up the pieces after Jose Mourinho's exit from Old Trafford, it was a move that made sense. The genial Norwegian had the personality to salve wounds after Mourinho's confrontational reign, and could steady the ship after what had been a dreadful start to the campaign.

The mistake was not hiring Solskjaer as an interim solution, but handing him the keys on a more permanent basis. Yes, United finished third the following season, but they were a dizzying 33 points adrift of the champions Liverpool. By the November of the next campaign, United had lost patience, and they swung the axe.

It's hard to escape the idea that the Red Devils have made exactly the same blunder with former United midfielder Michael Carrick. He also built bridges after the departure of a strident Portuguese coach (Ruben Amorim) and got the team into the Champions League. United could then have taken a breath and assessed whether a coach with Carrick's experience really warranted long-term backing, but INEOS rode the populist wave and handed Carrick the job.

United have lacked consistency in the early part of this campaign, and they look miles behind the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City. Just before the international break, United needed a late leveller from Matheus Cunha to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw at Fulham, who are yet to win a game in the league.

Benjamin Sesko is still struggling with a shin problem, while Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui are also doubts here. Summer signing Carlos Baleba hopes to make his debut, as he is closing in on full fitness after injury.

De Zerbi's reputation hangs on the next few months

The idea behind Hans Christian Andersen's famed tale The Emperor's New Clothes is that sometimes we collectively convince ourselves something is true, even if the evidence mounts to the contrary. Roberto De Zerbi is in danger of becoming a footballing example - we hear from other coaches how good he is, and we know he achieved positive things at Brighton...but is that it?

The Italian kept Spurs up on the final day of the Premier League season last term, and that piece of escapology came months after he stormed out of Marseille following failure to secure a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Marseille are now picking up the tab for a ruinously expensive spending spree that De Zerbi demanded, and now he has done the same at Tottenham. Spurs have spent enormous sums to build the squad the Italian warned, and now for them and him, this has to work.

Collecting a paltry pair of points from five games makes for a nightmare start, but there are crumbs of comfort. According to Opta, Spurs are averaging 1.0 xG per game, which is far better than the actual goal tally suggests. It's not world-beating, but it's a positive.

Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky Van de Ven both picked up minor knocks on duty with the Netherlands, but they are expected to be fit. After more than 500 days on the sidelines, Swedish midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is inching towards a return.

United v Spurs Tip 1 - Home side too short in the betting

Given the unconvincing way they have started this campaign, odds-on quotes for Manchester United to win this game on both the Betfair Sportsbook and Exchange feels like an overreaction to Tottenham's form. Michael Carrick's side have won just twice this term, and they were home victories against newly promoted Ipswich and Champions League debutants Sabah.

Yes, Tottenham have made a poor start under De Zerbi, but I see incremental improvements in their play, and in terms of man-for-man quality, there isn't a huge gulf between these squads.

I'll lay Manchester United at [1.78]. For those who prefer to play on the Betfair Sportsbook a back of Spurs/the draw on the Double Chance market is the same bet, this time at 11/102.11.

United v Spurs Tip 2 - High shot tally a part of big Bet Builder

We'll start a 27/128.00 Bet Builder by backing a shot total of 32 or more in the match. Manchester United have had 113 shots in five Premier League games according to Opta, an average of between 22 and 23. We only need United to hit their average and Spurs to contribute a further 10, and they've averaged 14.

I'll back Spurs winger Savio to be fouled twice or more. He has hit that mark in two of his three Premier League starts for Tottenham. We'll throw in Bruno Fernandes to produce an assist, something he did a record 21 times in the Premier League last season.

Bryan Mbeumo has had a shot on target in all six of his competitive starts this term, so we'll back him to make it seven out of seven, and let's go for Under 3.5 Cards. United and Spurs are in the league's bottom three when it comes to cards received, with just 11 yellows and no reds between them.

Now read Kev's European Tips column here!