Manchester United vs Southampton: Preview as two red-hot teams meet

Southampton will be looking to extend their good run of form on Monday despite a daunting looking trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

A 1-1 draw with Everton on Thursday saw them pick up their 10th point since the Premier League’s restart and put in another very decent away performance.

Playing United at this time looks to have made this game Saints’ best test of recent times though.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s team are unbeaten in all competitions since late January and have won their last four league games whilst producing some brutal attacking football.

This fixture last season saw United win an entertaining contest 3-2 and the form of both teams at the moment means that this one could be just as action-packed.

Team News

United look set to be able to call upon their most important players for this game after coming through a busy recent schedule unscathed.

Only Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are definitely out with longer term injuries, meaning that they could name an unchanged side for Saints’ visit.

Ralph Hasenhuttl named the same starting line-up that had beaten Manchester City ahead of the Everton game – a slight surprise that paid off with another energetic showing.

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Saints will definitely be without Yan Valery, Sofiane Boufal and Moussa Djenepo though with Hasenhuttl not wanting to risk them with such a short period between now and the start of next season.

Jannik Vestergaard could return to contention though after missing Thursday’s win.

Why Manchester United could win

Recent performances have really shown what United fans want to see from their bright young squad – fast and successful attacking football.

Key to this are a frightening looking first-choice line-up including Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood with Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba creating form them.

If these players are given the time and space to click again tomorrow, it could be a tough 90 minutes for Saints.

Why Saints could win

Whilst Saints’ home record is dreadful and a constant area of debate, their away record is superb.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side look comfortable playing on the counter-attack and showed that their tactics can really worry a top side last weekend when they beat Manchester City.

Three wins, a draw and a loss since returning to action show that Saints are in good form and are revitalised after a break in the season. Can they pull off a surprise at Old Traffor this time around?

Squads

MANCHESTER UNITED

David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Andreas Pereira, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Juan Mata, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Daniel James, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Odion Ighalo

SAINTS

Alex McCarthy, Angus Gunn, Kyle Walker-Peters, Kevin Danso, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand, Jake Vokins, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Will Smallbone, Will Ferry, Alex Jankewitz, Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Redmond, Che Adams, Danny Ings, Shane Long, Michael Obafemi

Predicted score: 2-2