Manchester United vs. Leeds United Sunday Premier League Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (Dec. 20)
Rui Vieira/Pool/Getty Images. Pictured: Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, left, scores a goal against Sheffield United.
- Teams coming off impressive wins go at it Sunday when Manchester United hosts Leeds United at Old Trafford.
- Can the feisty Peacocks steal the show at The Theatre of Dreams?
- Jeremy Pond previews this match and explains why he likes the visitors in a high-scoring affair.
Manchester United vs. Leeds Odds
| Manchester United Odds | -150 [BET NOW] |
| Leeds Odds | +360[BET NOW] |
| Draw | +330[BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 3.5 (+116/-143) [BET NOW] |
| Time | 11:30 a.m. ET |
| TV | NBCSN | Telemundo | fuboTV |
Odds updated as of Saturday night and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
Things could get out of hand quickly on Sunday when Manchester United hosts Leeds United in the highlighted Premier League tussle at Old Trafford.
Football lovers from around the country — and the world for that matter — have to be licking their chops at the possibilities that could come to fruition in this battle between the Red Devils and upstart Peacocks.
Manchester United enters this fixture fresh off a hard-earned, 3-2 win against cellar-dweller Sheffield United during the midweek fixtures. The victory was the Red Devils' fifth in their last six league outings.
On the other side, the ever-electric lads from Leeds delivered another wild performance in a 5-2 triumph over Newcastle United last out. The Peacocks struck for four second-half goals, bagging all three points at Elland Road.
Let's take a look at these foes and see what might be in store for this meeting.
Manchester United
Despite the fact they're still feeling the sting of elimination from Champions League play, all is not so bad for the Red Devils at the domestic level.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has Manchester United rolling along against the competition, going unbeaten through its last six fixtures. That stretch of stellar form is the second-longest run of its kind, with defending champion Liverpool currently without a loss in nine consecutive matches.
The Red Devils' success that has them in sixth place and just two points from the top four, with Bruno Fernandes' team-best seven goals leading the way.
When it comes to statistical data, Manchester United has recorded some pretty average numbers by its standards through 12 matches.
The Red Devils boast a middle-of the-road 18.2 expected goals and respectable 16.2 expected goals against, generating in a +2.0 xGDiff and +0.16 for xGDiff/90 minutes. Those stats are good enough to finish top eight in my opinion, but won't put them top four by season's end if they don't improve.
Leeds
Marcelo Bielsa has things cooking with the Peacocks, who are must-see TV every time they step on the pitch. The gaffer brought an electric style of football to the club, which made its return to England's top flight this season.
Leeds currently sits in 13th place, but finds itself just three points from a spot in the top half of the table. Patrick Bamford continues to lead the Peacocks' line, racking up nine goals in his pursuit of the league's Golden Boot.
Taking a look at its advanced metrics, Leeds has numbers that absolutely reflect its performance thus far this season. It's been good, bad and everything else in between for the electric side.
The Peacocks have generated a stellar 23.7 xGs, good enough for second overall in the league. However, its brutal 23.3 expected goals against falls at the complete opposite end of the spectrum in 19th out of 20 teams.
Those volatile numbers result in a flat +0.4 xGDiff and +0.03 xGDiff/90 minutes. If Leeds can maintain its xGDiff and xGDiff/90 minutes, I feel like a spot inside or right around top 10 is more than doable.
Betting Analysis & Picks
This showdown has all the makings of a wild, back-and-forth barnburner. Both clubs are coming off victories where their offenses were at their best, leading me to believe that form will carry over into this affair.
When it comes to backing a side, I like Leeds' carefree and relentless style of play to wreak all sorts of havoc on Manchester United's back four. The Peacocks don't know the word quit, which has me believing they will be firmly in the thick of things from the start.
That said, I am backing Leeds on the alternative number of -1 to keep things close (if not outright win) at The Theatre of Dreams. The Peacocks bring the heat match in, match out and they're going to be more than competitive off that rout of Newcastle.
I will also play the total to go over the alternative number of three goals. There have been at least three goals (14 to be exact) in Leeds' last three contests. Add in the fact the Peacocks have one of the league's worst defenses, and I can't see this being a low-scoring confrontation.
Picks: Leeds +1 (-136) | Total Over 3 Goals (-143)
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