Southampton - Manchester United - Tips by users and experts on football, 31 August 2019: England. Premier League

To kick-off

20:39:18

16 January 2025, 20:00England. Premier League

Manchester United vs Southampton

Predictions

Odds

Statistics

Match

Squad

Manchester United Win • 2.02

Manchester United hopefully won't get a penalty in this one!

Southampton winning last week turned them around a bit for the better after a difficult start. Manchester United's problem is going to be against teams that sit in deep and I don't see their midfield having great creativity at the moment.

There is something about United, though. I think they will be up and down all season but I think they will nick this one.

Draw • 3.46

I had the Manchester United game last week. Everyone was saying it was a terrible result. When you first see them at the start of the season, you have to ask who they are keeping. They always have the talented Marcus Rashford, the energy of Jesse Lingard, alongside Anthony Martial too. I don't know whether Martial will be fit as he was carrying a knock in the last 10 minutes.
With that, they are down to the bare bones, especially with Romelu Lukaku out of the door. Not one of those forward players played well last week. You cannot get a rhythm with Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay in midfield. McTominay is a throwback to Darren Fletcher, who was a much better passer of the ball. He is young and rash, but his physical presence has got him there, which is not a bad thing and where I see the balance.
Pogba has started playing deep again and forgotten where he wants to play. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is allowing him to do that and he says that he will be the main player if he does. He will have his good days and will have his bad ones. He gives the ball away cheaply.

The balance at the back is unusual. Harry Maguire never covered Victor Lindelof for the first goal last week. Is he the type to do that? The full-backs are worrying and they could always have faith in David de Gea in the past. Now they don't have that reliability.
They could be too hot to trot one weekend and then poor the next two. Southampton have the energy, belief and confidence after their win at Brighton, and will get at Pogba and McTominay and see if they can hurt their defence. It will be an open game which may suit Southampton. This will be an entertaining and expansive match.

Southampton or Draw • 1.82

Liverpool were very good going forward but I did see problems at the back against Arsenal. I don't think Adrian is reliable. We saw mistakes at West Ham and we have recently too. Ashley Barnes is in form at the moment and Sean Dyche may play Chris Wood for his height.