Manchester United have the perfect opportunity to build on their recent encouraging performance when Southampton visit Old Trafford tonight.
A 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool was followed by a penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend, despite playing with 10 men from the 61st minute onwards after full-back Diogo Dalot was sent off.
Head coach Ruben Amorim now wants to see the same fight and spirit in every game, with their next seven matches, against Saints, Brighton, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Everton and Ipswich, looking to offer a chance for United to turn around their season. On the right track.
The Portuguese said on the Match Tonight programme: “Last month, we went to the Etihad Stadium, Anfield and the Emirates Stadium – three of the most difficult stadiums to play in the country – and got positive results from each of them. To do that requires quality and character but the task now is to show that in every match.” , regardless of the competitor.
The challenge for Southampton is simply to get points, regardless of the opposition.
After crashing out of the tournament last season, they managed just one win and three draws in 20 matches. An immediate return to level two seems inevitable.
Manchester United team news
Amorim made three changes to the team that performed well at the Emirates Stadium.
Dalot is suspended and Amad Diallo is likely to play at right-back with Noussair Mazraoui shifting to the left flank.
Lenny Euro is preferred over Harry Maguire while Andre Onana returns in goal in place of cup champions Altay Binder.
There was once again no room for Marcus Rashford in the matchday squad.
Manchester United: Onana; Euro, De Ligt, Martinez; Imad, Ugarte, Maino, Al Mazroui; Garnacho, Fernandez, Hoglund
Here are the Red Devils to face the Saints 👊#MUFC || #Monso
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2025
Southampton team news
Saints coach Ivan Juric made just one change to the side that beat Swansea City 3-0 in the FA Cup last weekend.
This led to Japanese fullback Yukinari Sugawara replacing Ryan Manning.
Southampton: Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Sugawara, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Barre; Ogochukwu, Aribo; Fernandez, Kamal Al-Din, Debling
Your yellow 💛 pic.twitter.com/yqR4gSipTj
– Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 16, 2025
