"Ibrahimovic has now scored eight goals in his last seven appearances."
Monday, 15:00Sunderland
Ref Watch
Match Odds
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
To Score
Recommended Bets
Back Manchester United to win half-time/full-time at 1.77
Back under 2.5 goals at 2.42
Back Ibrahimovic to score first at 3.75
Manchester United
Jose Mourinho's side come into this game off the back of a third successive Premier League win. Unbeaten in eight league games since losing to Chelsea in October, United are now finally showing some consistency under Mourinho and looking like a coherent unit.
The 2-0 win away at West Brom last weekend was impressive considering that the Baggies are one of the Premier League's form sides right now. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice to continue a run of goals that is quite amazing for a 35-year old.
Ibrahimovic has now scored eight goals in his last seven appearances. That's brought his total to 16 in 25 games, of which 11 have been scored in the Premier League.
It will be interesting to see how the veteran copes with three games in the space of a week over the festive period. Mourinho at least has the benefit of an almost fully fit squad, with Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitarayan having recovered to face Sunderland.
David Moyes makes a return to Old Trafford with his Sunderland team showing some signs of life.
Now 18th in the Premier League, there is the opportunity for the Black Cats to climb out of the relegation zone and give their long-suffering fans some hope as the New Year approaches. Sunderland have won four of their last seven games and their home form in particular is improving.
Sunderland have their own evergreen striker in the shape of Jermain Defoe. Now 34, his eight goals in 14 Premier League matches is an impressive tally in a team that have often struggled to create opportunities. With seemingly little money available to Moyes during the next transfer window, keeping Defoe fit is key to Sunderland's hopes of survival.
Moyes already has more than his fair share of selection problems. Lee Cattermole, Lynden Gooch, Billy Jones, Jan Kirchoff, Patrick McNair, Jack Rodwell and Duncan Watmore are all out with injury, Javier Manquillo and Steven Pienaar are doubts, while Adnan Januzaj is ineligible to play against his parent club.
The experienced Martin Atkinson takes charge. He's been busy with his cards of late, showing at least five yellows in seven of the last eight games he's refereed.
Manchester United are the overwhelming favourites at 1.25, with the draw at 7.00 and Sunderland at 17.00.
That's fair considering United's form and the amount of injuries Sunderland have to contend with, but there's no point backing the home win at such a slim price. Instead go for the Manchester United Half-Time/Full-Time double result at 1.77.
There is some value in under 2.5, with three of Sunderland's last five games featuring less than three goals, including matches against Liverpool and Chelsea. United's Premier League games have provided unders in five of their last six matches, making this a decent value bet, especially with a view to laying off.
Unsurprisingly, Ibrahimovic is pretty short at 1.70 to add to his tally. It's worth taking the bigger risk of him being First Goalscorer at 3.75, as he's done just that in three of his last six appearances.
