Premier League: Red Devils Should Be Too Hot For Saints

Manchester United vs Southampton

Manchester United entertain Southampton in a Saturday lunchtime meeting at Old Trafford, and the home fans will expect their heroes to give the Saints a roasting.  

This fixture, Premier League: Manchester United vs Southampton gives Ralf Rangnick’s side a chance to get their top four bid back on track, while the visitors will be confident of continuing their own decent run of form. The Red Devils have slipped to fifth place in the league table after drawing 1-1 with Burnley on Tuesday night while Southampton have a trip to Spurs booked for Wednesday.

Talking Points

Second gear is no good for Red Devils

Off-the-pitch distractions at Old Trafford seem to have affected on field performances, to a degree, as Ralf Rangnick’s team has won three of the last seven games but it could so easily have been six. They were two goals ahead against Aston Villa before conceding two late in the game, and then Manchester United went 1-0 up against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and could have been three up by the break. But they took their foot off the gas in the second half, conceded an equaliser and eventually lost the tie on penalties. A trip to Burnley on a wet Tuesday night is not everyone’s idea of a good time and so it turned out for the Red Devils who had to settle for a point after taking a first half lead through Paul Pogba and then allowing the Clarets to dominate in the second half. 

Speculation around the next permanent boss at the club and dressing room issues can’t help, but with the quality Rangnick has at his disposal the players should be able to rise above the external noise. The Manchester United vs Southampton betting odds say we’re heading for a home win but the Red Devils need to find a ruthless streak. Bruno Fernandes, with seven goals, can be the key to United’s season as the player who most consistently opens up opposing defences, while Jadon Sancho had his best game in a Manchester United shirt in the Burnley game. And Jesse Lingard, who made a substitute appearance at Turf Moor may be in line for more game time.

Southampton looking for a Manchester Double

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints came up with one of the results of the campaign when they drew 1-1 with Manchester City two weeks ago, ending the Sky Blues’ run of 12 consecutive wins in the league. A sequence of just one defeat in six games has lifted Southampton to 12^th place in the league and nicely away from the relegation tussle, and they don’t look like a side which is likely to get dragged back in.

Captain James Ward Prowse has six goals and is showing week after week why he is Southampton’s best player, a fine all round midfielder with a superb passing range and one of the best dead ball deliveries in the game. Winger Nathan Redmond, with five assists, is enjoying a resurgence and striker Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, is hopeful of recovering from a knee injury and he could be available to start.   

History

In terms of the head to head Manchester United vs Southampton results there has been a one sided story with the Red Devils winning 30 matches to Southampton’s seven, in the Premier League era, while there have been ten draws.  

Last season the Red Devils did the double over the Saints, winning 3-2 at St Marys, and the game at Old Trafford is not one Southampton fans would like to be reminded of as they suffered a 9-0 drubbing for the second time in two seasons. Having been beaten by Leicester City by the same margin in 2019, they had an uphill battle when Alexandre Jankewitz was red carded in the second minute, and the Saints were simply blown away as seven United players got on the score sheet.  

There is little to choose between the two sides on current form as both teams have won three, drawn two and lost one of the last six games 

Betting Tip

	Manchester United vs Southampton	First Half 1X2 Manchester United @ 2.05
	February 12, 20:30 (GMT+8)

The Red Devils have a day longer to prepare, as Southampton have that Wednesday night date away to Spurs to contend with and the odds on a home win reflect that. Manchester United are at a price of 1.49 to take all three points with the draw at 3.88 and Southampton at SBOTOP odds of 5.99. Having watched their second half display at Turf Moor I’m not convinced the Red Devils will win, but even if they continue their recent trend of easing off too soon, at least they should be ahead by the break.

 

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