Manchester United will lock horns with Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, hoping to pick up all three points and get into the top four of the Premier League table. The Red Devils will be coming into the match on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley, whereas the Saints recorded a stunning 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on February 9.
Team News
Alex Telles and Fred remain as doubts for the upcoming fixture, whereas Eric Bailly returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with an ankle injury.
Mason Greenwood remains suspended until further notice after being arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
Ralf Rangnick will probably opt for the 4-3-3 formation with a couple of tweaks from the last game. Cristiano Ronaldo might get the nod over Edinson Cavani in attack, whereas Anthony Elanga seems likely to make his way back into the starting eleven.
4-3-3 Predicted Manchester United Lineup Vs Southampton
Defence
David de Gea is expected to start between the sticks for the upcoming clash. The Spanish shot-stopper would be looking to put up a strong performance and secure a clean sheet on Saturday.
Raphael Varane is expected to start at the heart of United’s backline, with skipper Harry Maguire slotting into the right-centre back position. Luke Shaw is a guaranteed starter at the left-back position, whereas Diogo Dalot will fill in on the other flank as the right-back.
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Midfield
Scott McTominay is expected to start in the defensive midfield position, whereas Paul Pogba will slot in as the central midfielder.
Bruno Fernandes remains a sure-fire starter for Manchester United this week, and it’ll be an understatement to say The Red Devils will be highly dependent on the Portugal international’s creative work if they wish to pick up a win on Saturday.
Nemanja Matic will have to settle for a place on the bench, but he could be brought on in the second half of the contest if needed.
Attack
Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga will take up the wide positions, causing menace for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men down the right and left-wing, respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the line for Manchester United this weekend. The 37-year-old striker’s adept movement in front of the goal could cause a lot of trouble for the Saints defence that has conceded nine goals in their last five matches across all competitions.
Marcus Rashford could be brought off the bench as an impact substitute in the second forty-five minutes of the match.
