Premier League: Amorim Takes His Bow

Ipswich Town vs Manchester United

The moment has arrived folks and Ruben Amorim starts his job as manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world when the Premier League match between Ipswich Town and Manchester United kicks off at Portman Road on Sunday.

Following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, the former Sporting Lisbon manager takes over as the sixth permanent manager at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and there have been another four caretaker/interim managers in that time.

Yep, that’s 11 managers (including Sir Alex) in 11 years, and that is a remarkable turn of events following two decades of success under the great man.

Even Jose Mourinho has had a go at the Theatre of Dreams, and Red Devils fans are desperately hoping they have found the next Special One of Portuguese football. They are certainly getting tired of watching the likes of Manchester City and current league leaders Liverpool pick up trophies for fun.

The SBOTOP Premier League 2024 betting odds say Amorim should start with a win, but it won’t be easy for the Red Devils down in Suffolk. 

While all eyes will be on the visitors’ dugout on Sunday, the hosts’ boss Kieran McKenna has been doing a sterling job in Suffolk, and his team went into the international break with a 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur, while Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0.  

 

Talking Points

Delap is Ipswich’s shining star

The Tractor Boys climbed out of the bottom three thanks to their stunning win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and to win a first top-flight match was a great moment for boss McKenna, who has led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League 1 to the Premier League.

He served his coaching apprenticeship at Old Trafford, under managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mourinho, and now he hopes to upset the latest boss at the Theatre of Dreams.

Of course, there’s the serious task of avoiding relegation to take care of, and Ipswich are making a decent fist of it, picking up five hard-earned draws from the first 11 games, with the only win coming last week.

With six goals, former Manchester City academy player Liam Delap is having a real breakout campaign and, after a season on loan at Hull City last term, he has taken the step up superbly, scoring the winner against Tottenham last week.

The £20 million Ipswich paid for the 21-year-old looks like money well spent, and Delap has linked up with another new signing, Sammie Szmodics, who has scored three goals since his arrival from Blackburn Rovers.

Skipper Sam Morsy is as inspirational as ever in midfield, and McKenna moved to bring more quality in with the signings of centre-back Dara O’Shea and keeper Aro Muric from Burnley.   

 

How can Amorim bring the joy back to Manchester?

Ruud van Nistelrooy did a decent job as caretaker manager following the departure of ten Hag, beating Leicester City twice, PAOK, and earning a draw against Chelsea. None of those are surprise Premier League 2024 results, but you can only beat what’s in front of you, and winning breeds confidence.

Amorim’s first task is to improve the Red Devils’ away form. They have won just once on the road all season, a 3-0 victory over bottom club Southampton.

Inconsistency has left United in 13^th place, but only four points behind the Champions League places, and if Amorim can effect a quick change, that gap can soon be closed.

United have been toothless at times up front with winger Alejandro Garnacho top scoring with three goals.

Fans at Old Trafford will hope Amorim can do for Rasmus Hojlund what he did for Viktor Gyokores at Sporting, turning him into a goal machine following his move from Coventry City, scoring a whopping 66 goals in 68 matches.    

 

History

This is just the 10th time these two teams have met since 1993, and it is not a surprise that the Red Devils have bossed the head-to-heads with six victories to one, and there have been two draws.

The last time these two clubs met was in 2015 when United ran out 3-0 winners in a Carabao Cup tie.

Fans of both teams will remember a meeting in 1995 when Manchester United, top dogs at the time, handed out a 9-0 thrashing to the Tractor Boys.     

Ipswich are yet to win at home this season with three draws and two defeats at Portman Road, and they have won one of the last six games, drawing two and losing three, while the Red Devils have won three, drawn two, and lost one.    

 

Betting Tip

The Tractor Boys are at odds of 4.39 to spoil Amorim’s party and at 3.80 to draw, while the Red Devils are at 1.57 to start their new era with a victory.

It will be tough, but I’m backing the visitors to edge it, and their new man to get his first win.   

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.