Man Utd v Southampton predictions: Saints could be problematic opponents

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Southampton or draw double chance
1pt 11-8 general

Team news

Man Utd
Fred is out with Covid while Nemanja Matic and Eric Bailly are injured. Mason Greenwood won't be involved.

Southampton
Tino Livramento could return although Lyanco is out. Nathan Redmond and Nathan Tello are doubts.

Match preview

Southampton's litany of woes against Manchester United reached rock bottom this time last year with that infamous 9-0 hiding at Old Trafford, but Saints are capable of achieving some sort of redemption on their return.

Saints have a dismal record against United – they haven't beaten them in the Premier League for six years.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has had six goes at the Red Devils and is yet to win although he has managed three draws to go with the three losses.

Indeed, five of the last eight league showdowns between the two have ended in stalemates and Southampton are more than good enough to be able to avoid defeat. Just a few days after they went to Tottenham and won 3-2, and with United showing no consistency at all, backing the Saints draw no bet is worthy of consideration, although the Saints or draw double chance is preferred.

Hasenhuttl is getting a tune out of Southampton after a sluggish start to the season.

They still can't keep a clean sheet for love nor money – they haven't kept one in 14 matches, a sequence which includes a couple of FA Cup ties against Championship opposition – yet defenders Mohamed Salisu, Romain Perraud, Kyle Walker-Peters and the returning Tino Livramento are winning plenty of plaudits.

So, too, of course is young striker Armando Broja, who scored his eighth of the season at Tottenham and looks a real handful for any defender.

The south coast club have lost only one of their last nine with a win at West Ham as well as Spurs in that run, plus a draw against Manchester City.

They are a massive threat from set-plays, and play with a positive, aggressive style which will be no secret to United boss Ralf Rangnick. Hasenhuttl was Rangnick's successor at Leipzig and the two men speak very highly of each other.

Broja, in particular, will ask any number of questions of Harry Maguire, who doesn't always have the answers.

United are around the 8-13 mark but aren't playing like a side who should be that short.

They've returned from the winter mini-break with a couple of decent performances against Middlesbrough and Burnley but not managed to win either game. They have lost only once under Rangnick and consistency is missing. They go flat too often in too many games and Southampton should look upon this as a real opportunity.

It's 3-4 that both teams score – something that has happened in each of Southampton's last nine – while 11 of the visitors' 23 matches have produced four or more goals, which is a 7-4 shot.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in each of Southampton's last 11 matches.

Inside info

Man Utd

Penalty taker Cristiano Ronaldo / Bruno Fernandes
Free-kick wizard Cristiano Ronaldo / Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Maguire
Card magnet Scott McTominay

Southampton

Penalty taker James Ward-Prowse
Free-kick wizardJames Ward-Prowse
Set-piece aerial threat Jan Bednarek
Card magnetMohammed Salisu

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