The lineups for Southampton FC and Manchester United FC are as follows:
Southampton starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Ramsdale (30)
- Defenders: Harwood-Bellis (6), Bednarek (35), Bree (14), Walker-Peters (2)
- Midfield: Arribo (7), Ugo-Chukwu (26), Ugo-Chukwu (32), Matheus Fernandes (18), Soulemana (20), Dribbling (33)
- Striker: Smallbone (8), Armstrong (9)
Manchester United starting XI
- Goalkeeper: De Gea (24)
- Defenders: Deli (4), Lisandro Martinez (6), Young (15), Matic (3)
- Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (8), Ujanga (25), Meunier (37)
- Forwards: Amadou Diallo (No. 16), Gana Kyo (No. 17), Hoilund (No. 9)
Injuries and other key information
Southampton’s injuries and problems
- Main midfielder Smalunben is unable to play due to injury.
- Main defender Stephens is also out due to injury.
- It is still unknown whether another key midfielder, Dons, will be able to play.
United’s injuries and problems
- Full-back Dalot is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.
- Key left-back Luke Shaw is absent due to injury.
- Midfielder Munt and defender Evans are also unable to play due to injury.
United manager Tenhaag’s record review
Ten Hag has achieved good results since taking over as manager of Manchester United two seasons ago. He has led the team to win the League Cup and the FA Cup. In his first season, Manchester United also returned to the Champions League with a third-place finish in the Premier League. Among the coaches of Manchester United in the post-Ferguson era, Ten Hag’s performance is even comparable to that of José Mourinho.
However, Manchester United’s form this season has not been ideal. They have only drawn one game and lost three in their last four matches, and are currently in a slump.
Current table situation
United’s situation
- Manchester United have won 6, drawn 5 and lost 9 of their 20 games, scoring 23 goals and conceding 32. They are in 14th place in the Premier League.
- United are 24 points behind leaders Liverpool, 14 points behind 4th-placed Chelsea and 12 points behind 5th-placed Newcastle.
- Although they have 7 points more than the relegation zone Ipswich, this result has made it very difficult for the team to compete for a European spot, and they are not too far from the relegation zone.
Southampton’s predicament
- Southampton has only won 1 game, drawn 3 and lost 16 in 20 games, with 6 points, firmly at the bottom.
- They are 10 points behind Wolves, who are outside the relegation zone, and are basically certain to return to their original level.
Preview: Can Manchester United end their winless streak?
This match is very important for Manchester United. They have not won in four consecutive rounds and urgently need a victory to boost morale. Southampton, as the league’s worst team, is relatively weak and seems like an ideal opponent.
However, Manchester United manager José Mourinho sounded cautious at the pre-match press conference. He said: “We have lacked goals in recent times, mainly because we have spent too little time in the opposition’s penalty area. Although we improved against Nottingham Forest in the last game, we still need to continue to improve.”
On paper, Manchester United are clearly superior, but the team’s recent poor form and the absence of several key players due to injury may bring some uncertainty to the game.
Summary
This is not only a chance for Manchester United to end their winless streak, but also a crucial battle for them to narrow the points gap with other teams. Southampton, on the other hand, needs to fight for survival, and despite the slim hope, they will still do their best to get every point.
For Manchester United, whether they can seize the opportunity depends on whether they can solve the problems in the attacking end and use the home advantage to suppress their opponents. For Southampton, even in the face of a strong opponent, they need to show enough fighting spirit to strive for a better result.
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