English Premier League

Southampton vs Manchester United match build up

TEAM NEWS

Victor Lindelof is also out, while fellow defenders Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are both doubtful, so Diogo Dalot is on standby for a league debut.

Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez is expected to be out for up to six weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury.

Southampton forward Danny Ings will miss a third straight game because of a hamstring problem, while Ryan Bertrand is struggling with a back complaint.

Matt Targett suffered a head injury in the Carabao Cup and will be assessed.

Man United

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

@mfisherfootball: This game centres on two under-pressure managers; it’s constant for Jose Mourinho and it’s building for Mark Hughes.

Hughes saved Southampton from relegation in May but there has been little sign of improvement this season. One win and just 10 goals are stats that fuel the ‘Hughes Out’ brigade.

Despite qualifying for the knockout stage of the Champions League, United remain unconvincing and are already SEVEN points behind the top four.

United’s better moments have come on the road this term and they traditionally enjoy trips to St Mary’s, so Jose should be the one smiling come the final whistle – but I wouldn’t bank on it.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Southampton manager Mark Hughes: “People will look at the games we have ahead of us and say it’s a huge challenge, where actually, maybe we need to do it the hard way and that’s the position we are in.

“We are not going to be fazed by the challenge and we are going to give it a real go. Manchester United at home will always get our supporters up and ready to go against them.”

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: “In December we can focus just on the Premier League. We need points.

“We want to improve our position in the table, we want to close the gap to the top four, we want to be smelling those positions.”

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

Nothing seems to be working for Southampton at the moment and, although Manchester United are hardly firing on all cylinders, I still expect them to be too strong for Saints.

Prediction: 0-2

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • Southampton have gone five league and cup matches without a win against Manchester United, losing three of them.
  • Saints are winless in the last 10 home meetings in all competitions, losing eight.
  • Their last home victory over United was by 1-0 in August 2003, when James Beattie scored an 88th-minute winner.
  • Manchester United have come from behind to beat Southampton eight times in the Premier League – a joint-high in the competition.
  • Romelu Lukaku’s winner in last season’s corresponding fixture is the only goal scored in the past three league meetings.

Southampton

  • Southampton are winless in their past nine league games, drawing four and losing five.
  • Saints are one of only two Premier League clubs yet to win at home this term, the other being Crystal Palace.
  • Their only victory in 17 home league matches came against Bournemouth in April (D9, L7).
  • Southampton have lost a league-high 10 points from winning positions this season.
  • Mark Hughes has won just three of his 21 league games in charge of Southampton.
  • Hughes is unbeaten in his last four league matches against Jose Mourinho, winning one and drawing three.

Manchester United

  • Manchester United have won four and lost one of their last six matches in all competitions.
  • A defeat in December would equal their Premier League club record of seven away losses within a calendar year.
  • United have conceded five goals in the opening 15 minutes, a joint league-high with Leicester, Fulham and Cardiff.
  • The Red Devils have a negative goal difference after 13 games of a top-flight campaign for the first time since 1977-78.
  • Four of Manchester United’s last five Premier League away goals have been scored by Anthony Martial.
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored four Premier League career goals at St Mary’s against Southampton.