Birmingham City vs. Manchester United – Premier League Odds: Birmingham City gets to celebrate its promotion back into Premier League action by drawing the best for its opener in Manchester United as the club's begin Premier League Week 1 action on Sunday with an 8:30 a.m. ET kickoff at Old Trafford.
Online oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have Manchester United listed as -625 moneyline favorites with a 2.5 goal total. Birmingham backers are getting +1600 moneyline odds. Moneyline odds ona draw are posted at +450.Birmingham clinched its return to Premier League with by defeating Reading on the final day of last season. They wound up their pre-season preparations with a 0-0 draw at home to Sporting Gijon.
United begin the new campaign without Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Real Madrid but they do have Michael Owen in their ranks after his surprise switch from Newcastle United.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be aiming to bounce back from their Community Shield disappointment on penalties against Chelsea.
Expected to start for Manchester United in the match with Birmingham is Wes Brown who appears to have recovered from a thigh injury he picked up in pre-season. Ben Foster is fit and seems certain. Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen could make debuts.
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish faces major selection problems ahead of his team's daunting return to the Barclays Premier League. Defenders Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Scott Dann, Giovanny Espinoza and David Murphy are all unavailable.
Midfielder Lee Bowyer is suspended while striker Marcus Bent is sidelined by a hamstring problem. But new signings Joe Hart, Roger Johnson, Gregory Vignal and Barry Ferguson will all make their debuts. Fellow new boy, striker Christian Benitez, could be on the bench as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery.
