Berbatov should be playing all the time when confidence highest

Lou Macari has criticised the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson to rest Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov ahead of the trip to Blackpool.

Berbatov scored five times in Manchester United’s recent 7-1 demolition of Blackburn to take his tally to 11 in the top flight this season and this also saw him take over as the 3/1 favourite to finish the campaign as the Premier League’s top scorer.

Yet despite Berbatov proving he is in form, Ferguson decided to drop him for the Carling Cup game at West Ham and the decision to make widespread changes backfired as the Red Devils were not only knocked out of the competition, but also suffered their first defeat of the season.

Although it is virtually assured that Berbatov will be restored against Blackpool, Macari does not see the logic that the Bulgarian would benefit from being given the West Ham game off.

He said: “Berbatov scored five goals and would have been on all-time high. If he played again scored another couple there would have been more pats on the back. I am not a great believer in chopping and changing.

“Football is going in a different direction where we read and talk all the time about players getting tired.”

The win over Blackburn also ensured Manchester United moved to the top of the Premier League standings and football betting odds of 4/11 are offered that they win at Blackpool next to maintain this position.

Meanwhile, Berbatov is largely expected to add to his goal tally in the game as he is priced at 4/6 to find the target at any point in the 90 minutes.

Berbatov is also the favourite at 3/1 to score the opening goal against Blackpool.

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