Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

Where do I even start when it comes to that shambolic United performance on Sunday?

For a club like United to lose on the opening day of a new Premier League season is disappointing enough, but to do so at Old Trafford is unacceptable.

That’s no disrespect to Brighton, who are a brilliant football team with a brilliant manager and were fully deserving of all three points on the day, but this squad should be doing much, much better.

If he didn’t already, new boss Erik ten Hag now definitely understands the size of the job at hand, and hopefully now the board have got the message - we NEED new signings.

The arrivals of Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia are all positive, but having lost six players on a free, plus a sale and a loan departure, we have to continue strengthening the squad.

In particular, we need a defensive midfielder and an attacker, for our quality and depth in both positions of the pitch are seriously lacking.

It’s unlikely any new recruits will be through the door by Saturday, however, when we face a trip to Brentford.

United are 21/20 at Betfred to win the game, while Brentford are 11/4 – and the draw is 13/5.

Ten Hag and co need to bounce back and do so in style. The fans need something to cheer about after a frustrating transfer window and a poor opening day result.

Our traders must also see the result as a particularly bad one, for United’s price to win the Premier League title has almost doubled to 50/1.

Champions City, meanwhile, have been cut slightly into 8/15 after absolutely breezing past West Ham at the weekend.

The Blues won 2-0 at the London Stadium, with the brilliant Erling Haaland bagging a brace – probably the first of many as a Citizen.

Haaland, who will no doubt be eyeing up more goals when City host Bournemouth on Saturday, is now 6/5 to win the Golden Boot ahead of Salah, who bagged one during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham in their opening fixture, at 9/2.

On the Betfred Super League front, St Helens returned to winning ways when beating Castleford Tigers 20-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday and remain favourites at 11/10 to win an historic fourth consecutive Grand Final.

According to the odds, Wigan are their biggest rivals at 9/4 – and after their 32-6 drubbing of relegation-threatened Warrington last Friday, on top of some impressive recent displays, it’s hard to argue that.

My hometown club Salford are 33/1 to win the Grand Final after a recent hot run of form. That run halted a bit after Leeds beat them comfortably 34-14 last time out, but they’re in there pitching for sure.

What about the aforementioned, relegation-threatened Warrington?

Daryl Powell’s men have now lost four on the bounce – and if you look a bit further, they’ve lost 10 and won just two of their last 12 fixtures.

It’s been a season to forget, for sure… but not just yet, as the Wire have an absolutely vital clash with bottom-club Toulouse – who sit just four points below them in the table – on Thursday night.

A win for Powell’s men SHOULD see them safe from relegation, but a loss would turn the threat of relegation into a real possibility.

Wire are strong favourites with us at 1/5 to win the match, while Toulouse can be backed at 18/5.