Will United continue to ride the wave of success?

It feels like Erik ten Hag has been on the brink of retirement twelve times at Manchester United. However, it seems that the club’s management are still satisfied with the Dutchman’s work. Despite many prophecies of doom, the latest results also suggest that the former Ajax coach continues to reach the team and that a completely different picture of the soccer coach is being painted internally than in public. The fact is that ten Hag is currently experiencing an extremely successful phase with the Red Devils this season

At league level, the English record champions have recently won three in a row, taking 13 out of a possible 18 points from their last six matches. In particular, the offense, which has been disappointing for long stretches, has been in great form of late and will be keen to continue its positive run on Sunday afternoon. The sixth-placed team in the table will visit sensationally promoted Luton Town, who have also established a certain standing in the league with good performances. However, the Hatters’ role as underdogs cannot be disputed.

However, the orange and dark blue team have already proven this season that they can certainly keep up with the top teams on the island. They have only suffered narrow defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City, and even managed a draw against Liverpool. Is it now possible to pick up a point against MUFC? The answer can be found on Sunday afternoon from 5:30 p.m.

Luton – statistics & current form

What lasts a long time, finally becomes good. True to this motto, it took Luton Town Football Club a few games and months to acclimatize themselves as a surprise promotion contender in the best national soccer league in the world. This process now appears to be complete, as the Hatters have taken a remarkable step forward in recent weeks. While the orange and dark blue team averaged ten shots on goal in the first 16 matchdays, they have now taken six more shots per game in the last seven matches!

The somewhat bolder approach was promptly accompanied by improved results. Eleven out of a possible 21 points have been recorded in the last seven games. Among others, Luton won at home against Newcastle (1:0) or against Brighton (4:0). In Newcastle, a spectacular 4-4 draw emerged, which can sometimes be used as an argument to check the odds for over-goals in the Luton v Manchester United clash

Will Luton be congratulated again for a narrow defeat?

The bottom line is that we would still be cautious about predicting a point for the hosts in the Luton v Manchester United match, given their recent home performance. In the previous week, the hatters lost 3-1 at home to bottom-placed Sheffield United, of all teams, and thus missed out on a real escape in the relegation battle. Although coach Rob Edwards’ side remain one point clear of the first relegation place, 45 goals conceded in 23 matches still suggests that the promoted side will need a top performance and the necessary luck to score.

In order to combine the decent form, the brisker offensive approach and the consistent defensive weakness in a combined tip, it might be a good idea to bet on a home defeat with goals on both sides. The Edwards team have already held their own against Manchester City (1-2), Arsenal (3-4) and Aston Villa (1-3), but ultimately had to learn the hard way. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the relegation-threatened promoted side have always scored at least once in eleven consecutive PL matches and have long been regarded as a serious contender in the English top flight.

Predicted Luton line-up:

Manchester United – Statistics & current form

It’s really fun to watch Manchester United play soccer at the moment. Sounds a bit unusual, but it’s true. After a few months of poor play, sobering results and talk of a crisis, it looks as if manager Erik ten Hag has made the right adjustments after all. The record champions have won five of their last six matches in all competitions. For the first time in over a year, MUFC have won four competitive matches in a row, including three league games in a row.

The Red Devils are still unbeaten in the 2024 soccer year. Most recently, ten Hag celebrated an important 2:1 away win for his team at Aston Villa, which narrowed the gap to the Champions League places to six points. There is therefore renewed hope that the ambitious global club will be able to compete in the top flight again in 2024/25. However, this will require a continuation of the recent positive run, which has seen an unexpected upturn in the attacking department in particular

Manchester United’s offense has finally clicked

Rasmus Hojlund, who failed to score in his first 14 PL appearances for United but has now scored in five consecutive league games, is leading the way. Should the Dane manage another goal on Sunday, he would become the youngest professional in the Premier League to score in six consecutive matches. The odds on a Hojlund goal in the Luton v Manchester United clash are 2.20. Incidentally, the MUFC attack has scored a total of twelve goals in the last four matchdays. He has scored two or more goals in seven of the last eight competitive matches.

The sixth-placed team’s recent flawless record against promoted teams also speaks in favor of an away win. The Red Devils have won all of their last eleven matches against newcomers. Under Erik ten Hag alone, there have been nine wins against newly promoted teams. Incidentally, the only two coaches to win their first ten matches against newcomers in the Premier League were Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini. The Dutchman could therefore move into an elite circle and further improve his reputation at the record champions. The advantages in terms of individual quality are undeniable.

Manchester United’s expected line-up:

Luton – Manchester United head-to-head comparison / H2H record

The first leg on November 11, 2023 is actually the only direct clash that has to be taken into account for the head-to-head, as the other meetings are all over 30 years in the past. In the last match at Old Trafford, a goal from Lindelöf was enough for the Red Devils to narrowly beat Luton 1-0. On Sunday, we expect another close game with a better ending for MUFC, but more goals than in the first leg

Luton – Manchester United betting tip

Luton Town were on top form against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal at their own stadium on Kenilworth Road. Nevertheless, “only” one point came out of these three home games. However, the sensational newcomers always managed to score at least one goal. Manchester United’s task in north London will therefore by no means be a walk in the park. Nevertheless, the ten Hag team’s good form gives hope of a three-pointer.

The English record champions have won five of their last six competitive matches, have recorded nine points from their last three PL matches and have scored an average of three goals in the last four league games alone. With the confidence behind them and the higher quality on the pitch, we prefer to bet on an away win between Luton and Manchester United

Those who are particularly risk-averse also have the option of combining the aforementioned three-goal win for the visitors with goals from both teams. After all, the Hatters have scored at least one goal in eleven consecutive PL games and have also made huge offensive gains recently.