Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night aiming to build on their impressive recent results.
The Red Devils brilliantly claimed a point away at league leaders Liverpool last weekend before going on to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the Emirates.
It leaves Ruben Amorim’s side confident and ready to turn their form into three points as things start to look more positive for them.
A win is very much needed as they try to climb up the Premier League table, and it’s the same case for Southampton who are rock bottom.
The Saints have only won one game of their 20 outings so far, sitting on six points and looking like they could potentially be all but relegated already.
Man United vs Southampton: Old Trafford troubles
United have not been enjoying playing at home recently.
At Old Trafford, Amorim’s side have lost their last three Premier League games.
They have really struggled in front of their own fans in recent weeks, being beaten by Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Newcastle.
The Red Devils’ last home win in any competition actually came back on December 1 when they thrashed Everton.
United last lost more home league games consecutively 91 years ago in 1934 when they were beaten in five straight games while in the second tier.
You have to go even further back to 1930 to find the last time they had lost more than three home games in a row while playing in the top flight.
Playing against bottom-of-the-table Southampton seems like the perfect fixture to end their current streak, but they can’t take anything for granted.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Southampton (W7 D8) since a 1-0 home loss in January 2016.
- Southampton lost 13 of their first 14 Premier League away games against Manchester United but have since lost just three of their last 10 visits to Old Trafford in the competition (W2 D5).
- Southampton are winless in their last 17 Premier League away games (D4 L13) – only between March 1985 and February 1986 have they had a longer run without a win on the road in the top-flight (19).
Man United vs Southampton: Team news
United will be without Diogo Dalot for this clash after he was sent off for two yellow cards against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
It means that Amad Diallo is likely to drop back into a right wing-back role, with Noussair Mazraoui moving over to the left.
Diallo moving back will allow Alejandro Garnacho to start in the Premier League and prove himself worthy of a starting spot in Amorim’s team.
Injury-wise, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans will remain sidelined while Marcus Rashford seems to still be left out of plans.
As for Southampton, midfielder Flynn Downes could return from an injury while Ross Stewart and Jack Stephens are expected to miss out,
Tyler Dibling could start as a striker after scoring twice against Swansea in the cup on Sunday, but Jan Bednarek is a doubt after picking up a knock.
- Among attacking players in the Premier League this season (attacking midfielders, wingers, strikers), Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has received more passes in open play than anyone else (836), while only four players overall have made more progressive passes in open play than the Portuguese (88).
- Amad Diallo has been involved in nine goals in his last 12 Premier League starts for Manchester United, scoring three and assisting six. The Ivorian could be the first African player to reach double figures for goal involvements in a single campaign for the Red Devils.
Man United vs Southampton: What has been said?
United captain Bruno Fernandes has called on his side to keep up their recent upturn in form against Southampton this week.
Fernandes has been pleased with his team’s performances against high-quality opposition, but he knows they can’t relax against bottom-of-the-table Saints.
He said: “The big games against Liverpool [and] Arsenal, everyone steps up because it is a big game.
“We suffered a lot but we sacrificed as a team, and at the end you get this. You want to be in these kinds of games, you want to be involved, you want to be the best.
“But we have to do it in Old Trafford with these fans again.
“We have to give it back to the club. We need to do it every week, every game.”
- Just 44.7% of Manchester United’s open play shots in the Premier League this season have come while under challenge from within two metres (115/257) – only Liverpool (43.5%) have a lower such share this term. Indeed, the Red Devils have fired a higher proportion of their shots from outside the box than any other side so far (37%).
- Southampton rank sixth for most passes made in the Premier League this season (9,910) but second bottom for most shots (187), meaning Saints average 53 passes per shot in the competition this term (more than any other side).
Man United vs Southampton: How to follow
This Premier League clash will be played on Thursday, January 16.
Kick-off at Old Trafford is scheduled for 8pm.
The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. More details on how to sign up to discovery+ and TNT Sports can be found here.
talkSPORT will also have all of the latest while here on talkSPORT.com we will have regular updates of all the action in our live blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.