Hull City preserved their perfect record in the English Premier League with a heart-stopping 2-0 win over Swansea on Saturday. Shaun Maloney and Abel Hernandez scored late goals for the Tigers who maintained their unlikely winning start to the new season. They have achieved that remarkable feat even with just 13 senior players available at their disposal.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for the Tigers as they will face powerhouse Manchester United in their next match. They have lost ten and won none of their last 11 meetings with the Red Devils in all competitions. In fact, it has been 32 long years since Hull last tasted victory against United. For the Tigers to claim another major scalp this weekend, they will need their forward line to be firing on all cylinders once again. Hull’s front-three pairing of Abel Hernandez, Robert Snodgrass and Adama Diomande have already scored a whopping six goals this campaign.
Apart from their attack, the Tigers will also need to find ways to stop the red-hot Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish star has already bagged three goals for United this campaign. Ibrahimovic has now scored 41 goals in his last 31 league matches, a record going back to last season with his stint with French club Paris St-Germain.
The Tigers are pegged at +300to score first in this match.
Two games, two victories. It can’t get much better than that for Manchester United. The 20-time champions have begun the season in imperious form, in large part because their key players are performing to their full potential. New signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, who was criticized for his subpar play last season, have started their league campaign like a house on fire. Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his first two games, while Rooney is back to his all-action best.
David de Gea, who was United’s best player last season, has also been a standout performer for the Red Devils in the first two games. Record signing Paul Pogba has yet to score his first goal, but his presence has already made a world of difference to the United attack. The versatility that he provides in the middle of the park has been crucial for United in opening up spaces for Ibrahimovic and Rooney up front. That effect was clear for all to see in United’s straightforward 2-0 win over Southampton wherein Ibrahimovic scored a remarkable double on his home debut.
The Red Devils will fancy their chances of maintaining that perfect start this coming Saturday as they have fared extremely well against Hull City on the road of late. United are unbeaten in their four previous visits to KCOM Stadium, with the Red Devils winning three of those matches. Expected to play a crucial role for the Red Devils this weekend is Rooney. The England skipper has scored seven goals in his last five meetings against Hull.
The Red Devils are pegged at -300to score first in this match.
Writer’s Prediction
Manchester United (-250) ease past Hull City, 2-0.
