Manchester United vs Southampton Match Preview
Southampton manager Ivan Juric says he is “optimistic” that his new team can upset Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday after ending an 11-match wait for a victory.
The Saints overcame a three-game losing streak and scored as many goals as in their previous eight games with a 3-0 home win over Championship visitors Swansea City in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
“We can do it,” Juric said of the prospect of adding a first away win of the season to his first victory since taking charge on December 21.
“It’s a good match. The guys work well. They’re a bit more confident after the Swansea game…with the games and training I think they’re starting to do the things I want them to do. It’s normal.
Old Trafford awaits you 📍 pic.twitter.com/FP1AATPKFn
– Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 14, 2025
“It’s just an attitude to do the [required] things. If you train with intensity, with pressing, with aggression, then you will play like that.
Juric described United counterpart Ruben Amorim’s use of a 3-4-3 formation with his former club Sporting Lisbon as “almost perfect”.
“He wants to do the same thing at Manchester United,” added the Croatian, whose side are 10 points from safety and 17 behind their 14th-placed opponents.
Amorim considers this challenge a decisive test for the highly questioned character of its players. Less than two months after his appointment, Amorim said United’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool on January 5, which ended a run of four consecutive defeats, had driven him “crazy” due to the unpredictable quality performances he supervised.
–Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2025
United produced another surprising result and impressive display of determination on Sunday, knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup on penalties at the Emirates Stadium despite being reduced to 10 men when Diogo Dalot was sent off after 61 minutes.
“We must keep our promises – or try,” Amorim added. “But the most important thing is to fight in the game and… in the end, win.”
A good omen for Amorim is that United are unbeaten in 16 meetings with Southampton in almost nine years, although three of the last five meetings have ended in draws since a 9-0 victory for the hosts at Old Trafford in February 2021.
Man United v Southamptoneam News
Dalot will miss out for the first time this season while the full-back serves a one-match suspension for his two yellow cards at Arsenal, with Tyrell Malacia, who replaced him against the Gunners, an option to start at left rear.
Amorim says 21 years old Toby Collyerwho played in this position in the EFL Cup this season, also caught his eye in training.
You have to want it.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/GMkXBu0qQO
–Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2025
Noussair Mazraoui could also change sides, potentially allowing players like Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho or Antony to start on the right.
Defenders Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw remain injured, as does midfielder Mason Mount, while Andre Onana, still present in the Premier League since his arrival in 2023, is expected to replace Altay Bayindir in goal despite the Turkiye. the international’s heroism against Arsenal.
Southampton defender Jack Stephens, sent off during the 3-0 home defeat to United in September, will miss the match through injury.
Striker Ross Stewart is also missing, but Flynn Downes could return following a thigh injury suffered by the defensive midfielder on December 26.
“[Flynn] did his first training [on Tuesday] and he is fine,” Juric told reporters. “We will see if he can play from the start or later.”
“I scored a few tap ins” 👏 pic.twitter.com/p2uS2Py5VZ
– Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 13, 2025
Man United vs Southampton expected line-ups
Men United: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Amad Diallo, Mainoo, Ugarte, Malacia; Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho
Southampton: Ramsdale; Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Wood; Walker-Peters, Fernandes, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Manning; Dibling, Armstrong
