Manchester United vs Southampton
We pay our hard earned cash to go and cheer on our heroes week after week, never wavering in our resolve to be the ‘twelfth man’ roaring them to victory.
Supporters will moan from time to time, but their undying love is unshakeable, though every now and then it can be seriously tested. Manchester United’s last outing was a nightmare for their fans as they fell to a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool.
Liverpool…of all teams!
The rivalry between the two North West giants is, at times, brutal. The Red Devils fans have suffered and now it’s down to Erik Ten Hag’s team to pay them back. And Premier League: Manchester United vs Southampton gives them the opportunity.
But Southampton are in a relegation battle and fighting for their Premier League survival and have picked up six points from their last three games, to give their fans hope that they can stay in the top flight.
Talking Points
Rashford backs his captain
The Red Devils will experience few more harrowing days than their 7-0 thrashing at the hands of their fiercest rivals and the soul searching continues. But Manchester United’s man of the moment, Marcus Rashford, has rallied round his under fire captain Bruno Fernandes, who was widely criticised for his failure to lead the team when they came under serious pressure.
Rashford has 14 goals in the campaign of his life, so his endorsement is valuable as he insisted Fernades was acting out of character when the skipper was visibly disappointed not to be substituted during the rout. Fernandes has been such a big player for United during a fallow period but, now the team has stepped up, won a trophy and many admirers, he too needs to act like a winner.
Ten Hag has taken great strides at the club and last week’s debacle was just one game, but it probably did more damage than that. He has questions to answer on the pitch too. Wout Weghorst has done a good job since joining on loan from Burnley but, as a number ten it didn’t work out, he is more effective as a target man who can shield the ball and make clever short passes.
Also wingback Luke Shaw had a shocker in the second half against Liverpool and he may need a rest.
Talk of a quadruple has all but disappeared but the Red Devils can recover. They are still in the Europa League and well placed for a top four spot. The Manchester United vs Southampton betting odds reckon the Red Devils should win on Sunday and that is the least they can do for their fans.
Can Selles save the Saints?
Survival in the Premier League means better football for the fans and financial stability for a club the size of Southampton, but decisions in the boardroom have hardly helped this season. First they sacked Ralph Hassenhuttl, the much admired head coach who had been at the helm since 2018. Then they appointed Nathan Jones, an unproven boss (outside Luton) who led the Saints to seven defeats in eight and the club was staring relegation in the face.
So Jones was potted in February and replaced by former Valencia youth coach Ruben Selles, who has promptly led the team to two victories from his first three league games, the first a 1-0 win over Chelsea as James Ward-Prowse scored a brilliant trademark free.
The two victories have lifted the Saints off the bottom of the table and within a point of safety, and just three points behind Leicester City in 15th. They have a real chance of survival and a little momentum. Ward-Prowse is their one top class player and if he stays fit then Southampton can win any game on their day, as Chelsea will testify.
History
With 31 victories to seven in the Premier League era the Red Devils have bossed the Saints in the Manchester United vs Southampton results and the South coast club has failed to win any of their last six games at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have been very strong at home this term with nine wins, two draws and a single defeat, but the Saints are dangerous on the road with four wins and nine defeats from their 13 away games.
Betting Tip
Manchester United, at SBOTOP odds of 1.33, should see off the Saints who are priced at 5.99 while the draw is 4.84. But the Red Devils have a big Europa League game against Real Betis on Thursday and I’m unsure how they will respond to the nightmare of Anfield. So I’m hedging on a game with two or three goals; a 1-1 draw or a 2-1 to Manchester United.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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