Manchester United visit Southampton on Saturday aiming to put a miserable start to the 2024/25 Premier League season firmly behind them.
The Red Devils kicked off their campaign with a victory over Fulham, before succumbing to damaging defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
Southampton have also had little to cheer about this term, with defeats against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Brentford dropping them into the bottom three.
Online bookmakers rate Man United as the favourites to emerge victorious this weekend, but it would be a brave move to wager on them achieving the feat.
The sportsbook linked to the Bitcoin live casino from Betpanda UK rates United as 37/50 shots to win at St Mary’s, while the home side are priced at 7/2.
Manchester United vs Southampton team news
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is a long-term absentee, while forward Kamaldeen Sulemana is unlikely to start as he continues his recovery from injury.
Leny Yoro and Mason Mount are definitely ruled out for Man United, but Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw could return to the squad.
Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia are also sidelined, although neither player would have been in the starting XI if they were fit.
New signing Manuel Ugarte could get the nod to start in midfield after featuring for Uruguay in their recent World Cup qualifiers.
Manchester United vs Southampton preview
Southampton have endured a tough start to life back in the Premier League, with their attack failing to trouble opposition defences in the first three games.
They were shut-out in their opening two games against Newcastle and Forest, before nabbing a 95th-minute consolation at Brentford.
Last season’s top scorer Adam Armstrong is a proven performer in the Championship, but has generally struggled at this higher level.
Ben Brereton-Diaz is another Saints forward who has previously shone in the second tier, but lacks the quality to be a consistent Premier League goalscorer.
On that basis, Man United will fancy their chances of gaining a much-needed confidence boost after a troubled start to the new campaign.
They were unconvincing in their first two games against Fulham and Brighton, before imploding badly against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
That result has cranked up the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag and he desperately needs his team to pick up three points on the south coast.
United will take heart from a 15-game unbeaten run against Southampton, although it is worth noting that eight of those fixtures have been drawn.
The Red Devils smashed nine without reply past Southampton in February 2021, but just five goals have been scored in the four games since then.
Manchester United vs Southampton prediction
Given their need for a positive result, it would be no surprise to see the visitors try to keep things tight and hit Southampton on the counter-attack on Saturday.
They triumphed by a single goal on their last visit to St Mary’s in August 2022 and a similar outcome could be on the cards this time around.
Odds of 8/1 for United to win 1-0 will likely attract plenty of interest from sports bettors, although the ‘win to nil’ market may be a more prudent option.
United can be backed at 47/20 to triumph without conceding and that looks good value given Southampton’s attacking woes this season.
Having Hojlund available would be a major boost to United’s hopes of victory and he is worth checking out in the ‘anytime goalscorer’ market ahead of the game.
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