Manchester United should be expected to win against Southampton by a scoreline of 0-2.
Manchester United travel to the south coast to face newly promoted Southampton in round three of the Premier League.
Both teams head into this clash on the back of disappointing defeats, who will both be feeling the pressure to deliver sooner rather than later.
If Southampton are to achieve their target of staying in the league, wins at St Mary’s will be key. However, Nottingham Forest dominated them in their only game at home so far – and Manchester United are capable of doing the same.
Erik ten Haag’s side will need to put in a better defensive display if that result is to be achieved, having given away cheap goals against both Brighton and Liverpool.
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The probable lineup for Southampton in the “system of play.”
Ramsdale; Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Pieters, Aribo, Downes, Smallbone, Sugawara, Armstrong, Brereton Diaz
The probable lineup for Manchester United in the “system of play.”
Onana; Dalot, Martinez, de Ligt, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Casemiro, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashfrod, Zirkzee
It’s back to the drawing board already for both of these sides and perhaps the international break came at a good time. Southampton have struggled to adapt to life back in the Premier League, and have lost all three matches so far.
Man United may have rescued a win against Fulham in the curtain raiser, but it’s been pretty poor viewing for fans since. A lapse in concentration saw them lose a valuable point against Brighton before Liverpool humiliated them at Old Trafford.
Yet they showed glimpses against Brighton to suggest the team were pulling together. If they want to achieve a European spot, wins against Southampton are a must – whether home or away.
Bruno Fernandes hasn’t scored for United since April last season, but this is when he needs to step up and show why he’s so valued at the club.
During the international break, Fernandes scored for Portugal as they defeated Scotland 2-1, and that might have been the pick up he needed to get back up and running in the Premier League.
Operating in the no.10 role, no doubt he’ll find plenty of space, as Southampton have looked disjointed at the back, and this is where he can build on his goal last week.
Let’s not forget he’s on penalty duty, which always adds an edge to the goalscorer betting.
Priced at odds-against (2.10), both teams not to score looks a generous price from where we are sat.
Man United may have shown plenty of defensive vulnerabilities already this season, but Southampton have been extremely poor in the final third so far. With just one goal across 270 minutes, that isn’t sustainable if they are to survive.
A defensive partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt should click at some point, and St Mary’s would be the ideal location for them to kick start their season.