Southampton will have a tough task to cut out when they host an in-form Manchester United. The Red Devils are looking ruthless at this moment and the Saints will be well aware of their attacking prowess.
The Saints have lost only a single match this season and had a topsy and turvy journey so far. Life under Mauricio Pellegrino hasn’t been that smooth for them but there are certainly some positives from the previous games which the gaffer would definitely like to stress on before the much-anticipated game.
The Saints edged out Crystal Palace in a closely fought encounter but against the Red Devils, there will be no room for errors. United thrashed Burton Albion 4-1 in the midweek Carabao Cup fixture and should be more than ready for this fixture.
They have flourished this season under the guidance of Jose Mourinho and have scored galore of goals which will be a concern for Pellegrino.
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Southampton Starting Lineup Against Manchester United
Defence
Fraser Forster has often been a saviour for the Saints in the past and a lot will be relying on the gigantic keeper.
The return of Virgil van Dijk will be a huge boost for the Saints boss. The Dutch gaffer’s future has been up in the air but crushing all the rumours, he had some minutes in the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace. He will be an automatic choice in the starting lineup.
Wesley Hoedt has been the surprise package for the South Coast side. The Dutch international’s positional sense has been pinpoint and his strong physicality in the backline has given the side an edge.
Ryan Bertrand will try to use his acceleration to set the tone for the match. Cedric Soares will try to cause a problem from the right-hand side.
Midfield
The strength and power of Mario Lemina would be crucial in this match. He will have the task to mark the movement of Nemanja Matic who has been errorless this season. Oriol Romeu has struck a good partnership with Lemina in the centre of the pitch and he will be crucial for this match.
Attack
Steven Davies has started all matches this season and is likely to be included in this match too. He will be on the no. 10 position. Nathan Redmond has often terrorized defenders with his sheer pace and skills. He will try to repeat it from the left flank. Dusan Tadic will be on the right side.M Manolo Gabbiadini will try to make things happen in attack.
This is how they might line up:
