Match Pack: Manchester United vs Saints
Southampton look to continue their impressive run in the Premier League as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday.
Manchester United vs Saints
Premier League
Old Trafford
Saturday 12th February, 12.30pm GMT
Referee: Stuart Attwell.
Assistants: Adam Nunn, Nick Hopton.
Fourth official: David Coote.
VAR: Jarred Gillett.
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies.
It’s been a rocky week for Ralf Rangnick’s United side, who bowed of the Emirates FA Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout with Championship side Middlesborough.
The disappointment continued in the week as they could only manage a draw against bottom of the table Burnley at Turf Moor.
The opposite is to be said for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team, who also faced Championship competition in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend. Similarly forced into extra time, Saints eventually secured their place in the fifth round of the competition.
Victory in midweek followed for Saints, who came from behind to claim a valiant 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the capital on Wednesday, pushing them into the top half of the Premier League table.
Victory for United could see them rise as high as fourth in the table, while Saints could go ninth with victory on the road.
TEAM NEWS
Eric Bailly remains a doubt for the hosts, as he looks to return to the first team side after his time at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Lyanco and Alex McCarthy remain long term absentees for Saints, while Nathan Tella is nearing return but will be unable to feature at Old Trafford.
THE MANAGERS
Ralf Rangnick: "We will prepare the team again for what we have to do. We have to win this game, that's for sure. We did well in both first halves vs Middlesbrough and Burnley but now against Southampton we need our top performance for the whole game."
Ralph Hasenhüttl: "I am never afraid of going to any ground. If you are scared going to a ground, you should stay at home."
Averaging the most passes and carries for United during Rangnick's tenure, his link up with Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw down the left wing sees the 21-year-old pose a consistent threat.
Undeniably dangerous from the set-piece, Ward-Prowse proved his magic in open play as he assisted two goals in Saints' midweek victory over Spurs.
Cristiano Ronaldo 14
Bruno Fernandes 7
Bruno Fernandes 11
Paul Pogba 7
Fred, Shaw 4
Armando Broja 8
Moi Elyounoussi 7
Ward-Prowse, Adams 6
James Ward-Prowse 7
Nathan Redmond 6
Kyle Walker-Peters 3
Played: 130
Saints: 27
Draws: 36
Man United: 67
August 2021: Saints 1-1 Man United
February 2021: Man United 9-0 Saints
November 2020: Saints 2-3 Man United (Bednarek, Ward-Prowse)
July 2020: Man United 2-2 Saints (S. Armstrong, Obafemi)
August 2019: Saints 1-1 Man United (Vestergaard)
- Southampton have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games (W3 D3), with Saints both scoring and conceding at least once in all seven of these matches. Southampton are looking to secure consecutive league wins for just the second time this season.
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