Manchester United vs. Southampton: Opposition threat

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United celebrates scoring the 2nd Manchester United goal with Luke Shaw during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on December 26, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United celebrates scoring the 2nd Manchester United goal with Luke Shaw during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on December 26, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 17: Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United passes the ball under pressure from Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United at The Hawthorns on December 17, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 17: Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United passes the ball under pressure from Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United at The Hawthorns on December 17, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku, the first obvious threat, has lead the United frontline almost single-handedly this season until the re-introduction of Swedish talisman and Southampton heartbreaker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in November. The Belgian striker has done a decent job, repaying Jose Mourinho’s faith and the initial £75 million transfer fee with a return of ten goals and four assists in the league.

His threat to Southampton is obvious, with a combination of his aerial prowess and our incapability to defend balls into the box, it’s very likely that Lukaku will get a chance to test Fraser Forster (much like Harry Kane, Laurent Depoitre and Olivier Giroud in recent weeks).

Lukaku will have no shortage of quality service either – with Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and the in-form Ashley Young likely to supply delectable deliveries for a large spell of the game, especially with the deep line Saints often deploy against top sides.

Southampton will need someone to man-mark Lukaku out of the game – something they failed to do against Harry Kane, as he scored an effortless hat-trick. His opener was a prime example of what the ex-Everton man could do if left unmarked, with a quality delivery leaving him little to do.