Saints facing a United team on historic run

However, that hasn't dampened Ralph Hasenhüttl's belief that, if his team perform to their capabilities, they have an opportunity to beat Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side.

United will head to St Mary's this Sunday on a 26-match unbeaten league streak away from Old Trafford, which puts them only one shy of tying Arsenal's all-time record of 27 in the English top-flight.

Having added Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane to an already-talented squad that finished second last season, Solskjær's men are potentially an even tougher proposition this time around, but Hasenhüttl is hopeful of disrupting their bid for history.

"They're a good side, like always when you play against one of the top six teams, but Man United especially," he said. "They have a fantastic away record, so quite a tough challenge in the first home game, and we have to have a very, very good game, and even then it's tough to win, but we believe in what we are doing and we believe that we have a chance.

"We made our analysis of the last game [against Everton], that's for sure, and we try to make it better, we try to defend better in some moments and, on the offensive side, wait for the right moment to attack, wait for the right decision to make in this situation, and then hopefully score when you get the chance to."

Hasenhüttl has also had additional time this week to work with his new arrivals, particularly Adam Armstrong and Armando Broja who arrived in the days before the trip to Everton, and he has been pleased with how they, along with fellow summer signings Romain Perraud and Tino Livramento, have been getting to grips with the team's philosophy and style of play.

"They work quite well, everybody is very positive in the sessions," he said. "We had a good week and I cannot give everybody the chance to play at the weekend, but I have seen that a lot of players have shown up and I have a lot of alternatives in many positions and this is how it should be."