The preview, odds, predictions and tips, and pick for the EPL game Manchester United vs. Southampton, with analysis and possible lineups.
The preview, odds, predictions and tips, and pick for the EPL game Manchester United vs. Southampton, with analysis and possible lineups.
When: Saturday, February 12
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
We simply can’t explain what is happening with Manchester United. The Red Devils have one of England’s best teams, yet they underachieve massively. On the other side, Southampton improved its form a lot over the past several weeks, and the Saints come to Old Trafford with the intention to win and use all the turbulences in United’s locker room. This should be a fun match to watch, particularly because both sides often both score and allow goals.
Manchester United
The Red Devils couldn’t defeat Burnley on Tuesday night, arguably the weakest team in the English Premier League. We do understand that the refs damaged United in the first half, but that can’t be an alibi for a disastrous second 45 minutes. Also, we need to underline that manager Rangnick apparently has some sort of a dispute with Cristiano Ronaldo.
This was the fourth game in the last five in which they scored and allowed goals. Yet, that has been their story throughout the entire year now. We can’t say that Rangnick improved anything since arriving because United continued oscillating.
United is without a win in the past two events, suffering elimination from the FA Cup to Middlesbrough and now playing only 1-1 at Turf Moore.
Southampton
The Saints were better than Tottenham on Wednesday night, 2-3, after a roller coaster 90 minutes in London. They have been without a defeat in the Premiership since mid-December and the loss to Arsenal on the road. In the meantime, Southampton stayed unbeaten against City, Tottenham twice, beat the West Ham on the road, etc.
The previous eight of their games all ended with scores on both sides, and that is what makes their contests interesting. Meanwhile, seven of the past nine events have ended with over 2.5 scores, which further backs up our claim.
Southampton’s clashes are even more efficient when playing on the road, with the most recent four all with both teams to score and over 3.5 goals.
United: De Gea, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Rashford, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo
Tottenham: Forster; Salisu, Bednarek, Stephens; Livramento, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Walker-Peters; Redmond, Adams, A. Armstrong
The first meeting of the year saw a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s Stadium. Though, we all remember the Saints’ last year’s humiliation at Trafford, once they lost 9-0. It was one of the worst defeats ever for this club.
We won’t touch anything regarding the full-time outcome here but focus on goals. United is not stable at all, while on the other side, Southampton knows how to restrain any opponent these days. Our pick here would be Over 2.5 goals. The Saints like to attack, and they often deliver, but the defense is not that shinny. Meanwhile, United has one of the best front lines in the world, yet the defenders are performing pretty poorly.
Our verdict: Over 2.5 goals