Manchester United v Southampton Preview
Manchester United go into this game against Southampton on a thirteen match domestic unbeaten run, and few people will expect anything to occur other than the home side to extend this run to fourteen once this fixture is completed. United doled out a comprehensive beating to Fulham in the FA Cup at the weekend at Old Trafford with numerous first-choice players sitting the fixture out, and the chances of the Saints gaining even a point from this fixture look pretty remote, despite their promising recent form.
This is a key portion of the season for United, who will be looking to make the most of a time when they have no European distractions, and Manchester City’s formidable squad is slightly reduced in potency by the Toures being on African Nations Cup duty. As of yet, United haven’t managed to open up a decisive gap, with City churning out some good wins in recent weeks, and thus the home side will be doubly keen to ensure that they don’t slip up here, as two dropped points could meaning their rivals move to within one win of the Premier League summit. Should City close to within three points of United, they would undoubtedly claim that their destiny is within their own hands, with United still to play City at Old Trafford in April. City will also be mindful of the fact that United have an exceptionally difficult run in, with fixtures against their neighbours, Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke City away coming between 6th April and 4th May.
United will be without Darren Fletcher, who is ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing bowel surgery. Ferdinand and Vidic may return to anchor the United defence, with David de Gea perferred to Lindegaard in the United goal. Robin van Persie is certain to return to the United side having been rested against Fulham, and Wayne Rooney may partner him after impressing in the demolition of the Cottagers.
Southampton are unlikely to make too many changes to the team that has picked up five points from their previous three Premier League fixtures. This will mean that the Saints line will be lead by Rickie Lambert, who can make the unlikely, but accurate, claim of having scored more goals than Wayne Rooney so far this season.
Manchester United (possible 4-2-3-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Kagawa, Rooney, Valencia; Van Persie
Southampton (possible 4-4-1-1): Boruc; Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox; Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Ramirez; Rodriguez; Lambert
Betting Prediction: It’s difficult to find value in this fixture with United such emphatic favourites to win. However, a good punt might be to bank both teams to score. With United’s defence seemingly capable of conceding the most innocuous goals to the most vaquished and downcast opposition, as they managed at the weekend against Fulham, this would seem to be a good bet for this fixture.
