Southampton vs Manchester United: Premier League Preview & Potential Line-ups

Saturday's Premier League action kicks off at St Mary's Stadium as Southampton and Manchester United go head-to-head in a bottom-half encounter.

New Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag came under heavy scrutiny only two matchdays into the 2022/23 season as his side lost back-to-back league games to Brighton and Brentford via an aggregate score of 6-1.

After becoming the first Red Devils manager to lose his inaugural two top-flight matches at the helm in over a century, the Dutchman was under pressure to get his side back on the rails against Liverpool on Monday. 

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were on the scoresheet as the three-time European champions claimed a morale-boosting 2-1 home victory over Jurgen Klopp's team.

Man Utd's precious win against long-standing rivals has helped relieve some pressure off ten Hag's shoulders as he prepares to welcome ex-Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro to his starting line-up this weekend.

Standing between the former Ajax head coach and his first Premier League success on hostile turf will be Southampton, who head into proceedings in high spirits.

Like United, the Saints opened the season with a brace of winless league fixtures (D1, L1), yet a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph at Leicester City last time out has bolstered their morale ahead of this clash. 

Match Preview

Southampton

Ralph Hasenhuttl's men arrested an underwhelming eight-match winless streak in the Premier League by beating Leicester and could now win back-to-back top-flight outings for the first time since February.

However, in order to achieve that feat, Southampton will have to defy their abysmal recent league record against Man Utd that has seen them go winless in their last 12 Premier League meetings (D7, L5).

If that's not enough for concern in the home camp, the Saints have won none of their last 11 league matches against these visitors at St Mary's Stadium (D5, L6).

Manchester United

Man Utd have netted 98 Premier League goals against Southampton and are only two away from making the Saints the fifth different side against whom they've managed a 100-goal milestone in England's top flight.

That could prove easier said than done, with the Red Devils taking the field amid their worst losing Premier League streak on the road since 1936, having lost their last seven league matches away from home.

Indeed, ten Hag's lads succumbed to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Brentford on their most recent top-flight travel, suggesting Lisandro Martinez's arrival from Ajax isn't enough to plug their defensive holes.

How could Southampton & Man Utd line up?

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Kyle Walker-Peters, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Mohammed Salisu, Moussa Djenepo; James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia; Joe Aribo, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Adam Armstrong; Che Adams.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot; Christian Eriksen, Casemiro; Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes; Cristiano Ronaldo.