Manchester United will entertain Southampton at Old Trafford on Monday night as they look to break into the top four with a win at home. The Red Devils are currently sitting just one point behind fourth-placed Leicester City, so they will be eager to secure all three points versus the Saints. However, it won’t be an easy contest for them as the South coast side are unbeaten in their last three matches in the Premier League.
Talking Tactics
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation and will instruct his players to maintain a high line so that they can dominate the ball in midfield and create some clear-cut goal-scoring chances in the final third.
Ralph Hasenhüttl will opt for a 4-4-2 formation and is likely to ask his players to press high the pitch and exploit the opposition’s defensive weaknesses when they are vulnerable on the counter using the pace and work ethic of Shane Long and Danny Ings up top.
Team News
Manchester United
The Red Devils should have their strongest first-team available for this match versus the Saints as Solskjaer has no new injury worries to deal with this week.
Manchester United Predicted XI
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Pogba, Matic, Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial
Southampton
Nathan Tella is unlikely to recover in time for this clash away at the north-west of England. Otherwise, Ralph Hasenhüttl has no fresh injury concerns to cope with ahead of this league game on Monday.
Southampton Predicted XI
McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong, Redmond, Ings, Long
Key Men
Manchester United
Both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood have been amongst the goals in recent matches so they will once again pose a significant threat in the final third. Paul Pogba will be a crucial component of Solskjaer’s midfield so he might have to produce another goal-scoring showing if he wants to ensure a positive result for his team next week.
Southampton
Danny Ings will be the away side’s best hope for a goal. He managed to put in another excellent display in his last league outing and will be desperate to find the back of the net as he is still fighting for the Premier League’s golden boot award.
Odds
The bookmakers have made Man United the clear favourites to emerge victorious at the Theatre of Dreams after they were priced at 3/11. The draw has been listed as 24/5 while the Saints are 10/1 underdogs to pull off an upset on Monday.
