MX23RW : Monday, December 23 19:43:10| >> :60:953:953:
[monks data]
Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 35
Jul 13, 2020 at 8pm UK
Old Trafford
Southampton logo

Man Utd
2 - 2
Southampton

Rashford (20'), Martial (23')
Wan-Bissaka (90+2')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Armstrong (12'), Obafemi (90+7')
Ward-Prowse (44'), Stephens (53'), Walker-Peters (56')

Preview: Manchester United vs. Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Southampton, including team news and predicted lineups.

Manchester United will be looking to make it five Premier League wins in a row when they welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Monday night.

The Red Devils have been in excellent form since the league's restart last month and currently sit fifth in the table, while Southampton occupy 12th, having also impressed since returning to the field.


Match preview

Manchester United pair Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes celebrate scoring against Aston Villa on July 9, 2020© Reuters

Now unbeaten in their last 17 matches in all competitions, United will be looking to further boost their chances of claiming a top-four finish when they welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Monday night.

Fifth could yet be enough to secure Champions League football next season depending on the outcome of Manchester City's appeal over a two-year suspension, while the Red Devils could also qualify for next season's premier European competition by winning the Europa League.

There is no question that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side will have their eyes on a top-four finish, though, and they are currently fifth in the table, just a point off fourth-placed Leicester City.

Chelsea are just two points clear in third, although the Blues will have the chance to stretch their advantage when they travel to seventh-placed Sheffield United on Saturday night.

United were held by Tottenham Hotspur on their return to the field on June 19, but they have won their four Premier League games since, overcoming Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, winning by a three-goal margin on each occasion.

The 20-time English champions will take on Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Leicester City in their final three league games of the season, while they also have an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on July 19 and will resume their Europa League campaign at the start of next month.

Southampton players celebrate Che Adams's goal against Manchester City on July 5, 2020© Reuters

Southampton, meanwhile, have also been in impressive form since the lockdown period, winning three and drawing one of their five matches since June 19.

The Saints have had their problems this season but a 1-0 win over Manchester City on July 5 was an indication of their improvement, while they also picked up a good point away to Everton on Thursday night.

A total of 44 points from 34 matches has left Ralph Hasenhuttl's side in 12th position in the table and finishing in and around their current spot would certainly go down as a success.

Indeed, Southampton, who will take on Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Sheffield United in their final three matches, have finished 17th and 16th in their last two Premier League seasons.

United will the be the favourites to continue their excellent form, but the Saints actually have the fifth-best away record in the Premier League this term, picking up 27 points from their 17 matches, with only Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City gathering more points on their travels during the 2019-20 campaign.

Man United Premier League form: WDWWWW
Man United form (all competitions): DWWWWW

Southampton Premier League form: LWLWWD


Team News

Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood celebrates scoring against Bournemouth on July 4, 2020© Reuters

Solskjaer has named an unchanged side in each of the team's last four Premier League matches, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI sent onto the field once again.

Defensive duo Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones remain on the sidelines, but United otherwise have a fully-fit squad.

Mason Greenwood's stunning form has seen the 18-year-old cement a spot in the front three alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, while Nemanja Matic has been in excellent form in the middle of the park.

Scott McTominay and Fred could come into Solskjaer's thinking when it comes to potential change, but the United manager has suggested that he will not alter a winning side.

Victor Lindelof was a slight doubt against Villa last time out due to a back injury, but the Swede overcame the issue to start at Villa Park and is likely to keep his spot alongside Harry Maguire.

As for Southampton, Sofiane Boufal, Yan Valery, Nathan Tella and Moussa Djenepo remain on the sidelines through injury, while Jannik Vestergaard is also unlikely to be fit as he battles a muscular problem.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg returned from injury against Everton and could be chosen ahead of Oriol Romeu in the middle of the park, while Shane Long could replace Che Adams to start alongside Danny Ings.

Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong should keep their spots in the wide positions, though, with James Ward-Prowse again captaining the side from the middle of the park.

Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Redmond; Ings, Long


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Manchester United 2-0 Southampton

Three of the last four Premier League matches between these two sides have finished level, but United won their last meeting at Old Trafford last March, recording a 3-2 victory.

Southampton are certainly capable of causing a surprise on Monday night, but we fancy Solskjaer's side to further boost their top-four hopes with a two-goal success.



ID:406111: cacheID:406111:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11208:
Written by
Matt Law

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Manchester United win with a probability of 64.91%. A draw had a probability of 19.8% and a win for Southampton had a probability of 15.32%.

The most likely scoreline for a Manchester United win was 2-0 with a probability of 10.7%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (10.08%) and 2-1 (9.89%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.32%), while for a Southampton win it was 0-1 (4.39%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 4.6% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Southampton's Nathan Redmond celebrates scoring against Wolves on April 13, 2019
Read Next:
Southampton's most valuable players
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!