90min
·16 janvier 2025
90min
·16 janvier 2025
Manchester United welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Thursday night having secured back-to-back morale-boosting results away from home.
After impressing at Anfield and picking up a 2-2 draw, Man Utd progressed into the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday following a penalty shootout victory at Arsenal.
The Red Devils rode their luck after going a man down and were reliant on some woeful Gunners finishing, but Ruben Amorim's side nonetheless showed plenty of grit and determination to take the cup tie to penalties. Amorim will hope United's previous two results will serve as a springboard for his reign, with his team currently sitting 14th in the Premier League table off the back of a four-game winless run.
They have a great chance to secure their first league victory since 15 December on Thursday as bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit the Theatre of Dreams. Ivan Juric has overseen no major resurgence at the start of his tenure on the south coast, but the visitors head into this game having claimed a 3-0 cup win over Swansea City on Sunday.
The Saints have been miserable upon their return to the Premier League. They're on course for a historically poor campaign having recorded a mere six points from 20 games.
Here's 90min's guide to Thursday's Premier League clash from Old Trafford.
Diogo Dalot was sent off at the Emirates / Julian Finney/GettyImages
Diogo Dalot misses out after picking up two yellow cards in the FA Cup on Sunday, so we could see Tyrell Malacia come into the starting XI at left wing-back.
Andre Onana will return to Amorim's side despite Altay Bayindir's heroics at the weekend, while Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee are in contention for starts.
The hosts will be without Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans through injury, while Amad Diallo was carrying a knock entering Sunday's cup tie and was only used off the bench as a result. The Ivorian, who recently committed his future to the Red Devils, should start on Thursday.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Southampton (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Malacia; Amad, Garnacho; Zirkzee.
Gavin Bazunu has recovered from an Achilles rupture / Tim Clayton - Corbis/GettyImages
The Saints have recently welcomed Will Smallbone and Gavin Bazunu back from long-term injuries, with the former making his comeback in the FA Cup against Swansea at the weekend.
Bazunu has finally recovered from an Achilles rupture, but he's unlikely to usurp Aaron Ramsdale as Southampton's number one anytime soon.
Juric is hopeful that midfielder Flynn Downes will be back in action at Old Trafford having missed three games due to a thigh issue, but the visitors won't be able to call upon Jack Stephens, Juan Larios or Ross Stewart.
Mateus Fernandes is back from suspension.
Southampton predicted lineup vs Man Utd (3-4-3): Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Bree, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Walker-Peters; Dibling, Archer, Sulemana.
Amorim's United have so far had success at the Etihad, Anfield, and the Emirates. They've proven to be a far more effective side when they're expected to cede territory and break at speed.
Thus, while their two most recent performances have offered plenty of encouragement, Thursday's game will be tricky. Southampton are the worst team in the division, but Juric will ensure United meet a deep and compact defensive block on home soil.
There's bound to be a lot of toil from the hosts on Thursday, but the form talisman Bruno Fernandes has shown as of late suggests he'll deliver a big moment or two to get United over the line.
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