English Premier League betting - Birmingham vs Manchester United

High-flying Birmingham take on league champions Manchester United in this Saturday`s late kick-off. Since being taken over by new owners, Birmingham have been in tremendous form and have vaulted up the league table and currently lie in eighth place, only one point behind Liverpool.

United will be desperate for a win in this game, as their last match was in the FA Cup against League 1`s Leeds, who beat them at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson will want to erase memories of this embarrassment and will go all out for the win. United are in second place at the moment, two points behind Chelsea, who play Hull earlier today and they will be looking to keep pressure on the league leaders in the period where they are missing stars such as Didier Drogba and Michael Essien due to the African Cup of Nations.

The Red Devils are favourites for the match, priced at 8/13, while Birmingham are at 11/2. The draw is priced at 14/5. The favourite scoreline for the game is a 1-0 win for United at 6/1 followed by a 2-0 win at 13/2. A 1-1 draw is at 7/1, with a 2-1 United win at 8/1. A goalless draw is at 10/1. A 1-0 Birmingham win is priced at 15/1.

Man Utd / Man Utd is the favourite result on the half time / full time market at 6/4, followed by draw / United at 7/2 and draw / draw at 11/2. Birmingham / Birmingham is at 12/1, with draw / Birmingham at 14/1. United / draw and Birmingham / draw are both at 18/1, and Birmingham / United is at 28/1.

Premier League joint-top scorer Wayne Rooney is favourite to open the scoring at 4/1, followed by Michael Owen at 5/1. Dimitar Berbatov is at 11/2, with youngsters Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck at 13/2 and 7/1 respectively. Christian Benitez is Birmingham`s best hope at 10/1, with Luis Antonio Valencia at the same price.

United`s odds for the Premiership have shortened recently, with Chelsea suffering a slump in form, and they are now at 2/1. However, doubts linger over whether they have enough attacking firepower to compensate for the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ferguson could buy another striker in this transfer window. A possible move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko has been touted in the media, but he would not be able to play in the Champions League.

Birmingham also have funds for the transfer window, and a move for Liverpool misfit Ryan Babel seems to be on the cards, if Birmingham can meet Liverpool`s £12million valuation of the player. Despite Birmingham`s recent good form, they are not expected to finish this highly in the league, and are 11/1 to finish in the top six.

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