Manchester United welcome Southampton to Old Trafford in a Premier League lunchtime encounter on Saturday, February 12 2022.
Allsportspredictions.com is one of our expert tipster partners. And this Man United – Southampton clash comes into the tipsters’ radar this weekend. To view more of the betting specialists’ predictions and other tried-and-true football tips, go here.
The Red Devils and the Saints had contrasting fortunes in midweek. Burnley held United to a 1-1 draw in midweek, while Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a tense encounter.
All eyes were on the looming titanic clash between Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Burnley’s new talisman Wout Weghorst at Turf Moor, but it was the ex-Wolfsburg striker who physically and symbolically towered over his opposite number to help the Clarets bag a well-deserved point.
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After Raphael Varane believed he had broken the deadlock only to have VAR reverse his effort, Paul Pogba slammed home the first goal, and Burnley answered immediately in the second session through Jay Rodriguez after Weghorst beat Maguire before providing a very crucial assist.
Man United’s run of poor results continues, with Ralf Rangnick unable to inspire a fast turnaround following their humiliating FA Cup exit, and the Red Devils currently sit fifth in the table following West Ham United’s victory against Watford.
As the competition for Champions League football heats up, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both breathing down the Red Devils’ necks, and while the draw with Burnley extended Manchester United’s Premier League unbeaten record to four matches, it was undoubtedly two points lost rather than one gained.
Rangnick’s team, on the other hand, has won four of their past five Premier League games at Old Trafford, but Southampton are no strangers to stealing points off Big Six teams on their home turf, as they demonstrated in midweek.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side currently has four wins in their past six matches across all competitions, putting them in tenth place in the league.
While the Saints’ impressive win at Tottenham’s home may cause some concern among the hosts at Old Trafford, they have now conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight away matches in all competitions, with their Premier League tally of 26 conceded on the road joint-worst in the division with Leeds United.
The Red Devils will not require a second invitation to expose such flaws as they did at Old Trafford last season – nine goals was plenty for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side on that memorable occasion – and a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s earlier this season extended Southampton’s winless run against United to 12 games in all competitions.
Team News
Manchester United are still concerned about Eric Bailly’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s match, as the Ivory Coast international returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with a swollen ankle.
It’s unclear whether Fred and Alex Telles will be able to recover from their COVID-19 infections in time to play in this match, although the former has no chance of pushing Pogba out in any case.
Rangnick is anticipated to reinstate Cristiano Ronaldo to the starting lineup after benching the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in midweek, and Anthony Elanga, who is 18 years his junior, might also be reintroduced to a fresh attack.
Lyanco, who suffered a catastrophic hamstring injury, is fighting to return to action before the end of the season, while goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is still out with a similar injury.
Moussa Djenepo has returned to the bench following his Africa Cup of Nations exploits, but Nathan Redmond is nursing an ankle ailment, while fellow forward Nathan Tella is unlikely to return from a groin injury anytime soon.
After Wednesday’s exertions, Hasenhuttl will undertake fitness checks on his players, but if his midweek heroes are fit to play again, the visiting manager will almost certainly make no changes to his starting lineup.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga; Ronaldo
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Forster; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud; S. Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Elyounoussi; Adams, Broja
Our Prediction: Over 1.5 Goals
Allsportspredictions.com, one of our expert tipster partners, predicts a score of over 1.5 goals in this match. To view more of our forecasts and other tried-and-true football advice, go here.
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