Manchester United will look to lift the first silverware of the season when they travel to Wembley to face a Southampton side, who have upset all odds and reached the final after defeating Liverpool over a 2-legged semi-final and will look to complete a stunning cup run. Not many would fancy a Southampton win with Manchester United the overwhelming favourites but Jose Mourinho and United will know what Southampton are capable of. The Saints might have continuously lost their best talent every year but they are still capable of playing some sparkling football on their day.
Claude Puel has players who can conjure up moments of magic and in new signing- Manolo Gabbiadini has someone who has taken to English football like fish to water. They have looked re-energised up top but question marks still remain regarding their backline which was dealt a blow with Jose Fonte moving to West Ham and the untimely injury to star defender, Virgil Van Dijk. They are a bit short at the back which is an area Manchester United will target with their multi-star cast offensive line.
The Saints should approach the match without much pressure and look to express themselves. United have chopped and changed their backline and a couple of periods of sustained pressure might well do the trick for Southampton.
PREDICTED SOUTHAMPTON XI VS MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Fraser Forster will be the keeper and will look to get his big frame between the goal and the ball. United have been previously thwarted by keepers on form and something similar might well be on the cards. Ryan Bertrand will be at left-back and he has to make sure that he is not pegged back in his own half by the United attackers. He has to look to push out and ease the pressure. The centre-back pairing is likely to remain Stephens and Yoshida with Van Dijk not fit to return yet. The right-back will be in-the-news Cedric Soares.
MIDFIELD
Romeu is likely to sit at the base of the midfield and will look to control the tempo of the game but up against Pogba and Herrera, that might not be forthcoming. Davis is likely to get a start while Hojbjerg might come back to increase solidity in midfield.
ATTACK
Redmond might be on the left-hand side while Tadic is likely to retain his place. They have options in Rodriguez and Long but will go with the in-form Gabbiadini as the lone striker.
