Michail Antonio, the West Ham striker, has made a bold prediction for the upcoming Manchester United vs Manchester City match on Sunday. Despite the odds being stacked against them, Antonio believes that United could pull off an unlikely upset.
It has been a rollercoaster week for Manchester United. After the optimism of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group taking charge of football operations from the Glazers, there was the disappointment of a loss to Fulham. This was followed by another poor display against Nottingham Forest.
United now face their fierce rivals, Manchester City, on Sunday. City has been in exceptional form, unbeaten since December 6 and coming off a 6-2 victory against Luton Town. The upcoming match is looking very concerning for United.
Despite the challenges, Michail Antonio believes that this is the best United team so far. He expressed his disappointment that Rasmus Hojlund is not available for the game, as he believes it would have made it an even better contest. Antonio predicts a 1-0 win for United, throwing a little spanner in the works.
While it is theoretically possible for United to beat City, it is extremely difficult to envision them keeping a clean sheet, let alone winning the game. United could be without up to eight players, including key figures like Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes. The absence of Rasmus Hojlund, in particular, poses a significant challenge for United.
In conclusion, while Antonio's prediction adds an element of excitement, the odds are heavily stacked against Manchester United. They face a formidable opponent in Manchester City, who have been in exceptional form. United's chances of victory are further diminished by the absence of key players. Nevertheless, football is unpredictable, and anything can happen on the day of the match.
Alex Johnson is a dynamic and insightful sports journalist with a deep expertise in Premier League football. His vibrant writing brings a unique perspective to football analysis and reporting.