Man Utd vs Southampton: Preview and Prediction

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Match Preview:

It’s tough at the top and Manchester United have had a few harsh lessons over the past week. After surprising everyone by climbing to 1st place this season United have earned 1 point from their last 2 games and had a reality check as they have seen Manchester City fly past them. Still United have it all to play for and will want to bounce back from recent disappointments.

In truth only one of those games for Red Devils was a poor result and that was last week when they were stunned losing at home to bottom club Sheffield United, few people would have seen that coming. It was only the Blades 2nd win of the season too. At the weekend United had a tough fixture against old rivals Arsenal in London and that game ended 0-0. It was a decent away point for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team on reflection, but the result means that the club have won just 1 game in their past four.

Presently United sit in 2nd place with 41 points but are three behind City, and City have a game in hand. If United win they would stay in 2nd place but have the same points as City and would move four points ahead of Liverpool. At home United have been underwhelming, winning just 40% of their games, though recent home form had changed and before their loss to the Blades they had won their last 3 games at Old Trafford.

Southampton come into this game having lost their last 3 in a row and are in 11th place. Last weekend they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa and the Saints haven’t won a game for almost a month when they beat- of all teams, Liverpool. Away form is nothing to get excited about either as they have just 3 wins from 9 games played and the majority of their games on the road have ended in draws (45%).

The Saints last away win was recorded at the beginning of December when they beat Brighton and they have gone their last 3 games without victory on the road with their last match ending in a 2-0 loss at Leicester.

Team News: 

Manchester United: Scott McTominay missed the last game through illness but the club are confident he will be fine for this game. Marcos Rojo remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Southampton: Ibahima Diallo has a muscle injury and could miss out, he is rated as only 50/50. Oriol Romeu had just come back from injury but he has a knock and will have to be assessed. William Smallbone looks set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Nathan Tella will be assessed after missing the last few games due to a muscle injury. Jannick Vestergaard has been pencilled in to return for this game following his knee injury though there is no confirmation that he will. Theo Walcott is a doubt with a muscle injury.

Man Utd vs Southampton Head to Head:

Last season this fixture finished 2-2.

The last 5 league meetings have all seen both teams to score.

Southampton have not won away to Manchester United since 2016.

Manchester United have scored 5 goals past Southampton in the last two meetings.

Man Utd vs Southampton Prediction:

Manchester United should win this game and it is such an important match for them to get back on track. Surely one cannot fathom another defeat at home. The worry is that Solskjaer is about to go through one of his bad periods, he seems to switch to great or bad during his career managing the club. Despite two games without a win United are right in there and have to get the three points in midweek.

United have a full squad minus Rojo who has been out long term anyway and the problem with Southampton is that not only do they come here out of form but they have many injuries which keep on accumulating, at one point that is going to take its toll. Still the Saints will produce chances and a good choice for this game is to back both teams to score. A home win for us though and back Edinson Cavani who will fancy his chances to score after netting a brace the last time the clubs met.

Man Utd vs Southampton Betting Tips:

Manchester United to beat Southampton at 1.50

Both teams to score at 1.70

Anytime goalscorer: Edinson Cavani at 2.10