When Manchester United visit Southampton FC on Saturday, it’ll be a match-up of two teams that really need to get the ball rolling now if they are to realize their goals of this Premier League season. United are seven points off the pace for the top four, but sitting in seventh place, they need to leapfrog a couple teams in order to get back in next season’s UCL qualifying position.
Given their astronomical payroll, finishing outside the top four is way beyond unacceptable. For Southampton, they currently sit in the final relegation position of 18th. They are just one point behind Burnley for safety, but after sweating out the very real prospect of the drop last season up until the very end, they don’t want to experience that anxiety again this season.
Mark Hughes knows job one is securing a place within the top flight.
Let’s take a look at the injury, fitness and availability situation for both teams. United defender Luke Shaw is eligible again to face his former team having served his one game suspension last weekend. Manager Jose Mourinho (who for some bizarre reason felt compelled to brag about his past European record, without provocation in midweek) will also be without the services of centre back Victor Lindelof, who suffered an unspecified injury (which some have reported to be a hamstring problem) in the dull goalless draw with Crystal Palace last Saturday.
Fellow defenders Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are unlikely to feature at the St. Mary’s as they have missed training this week. Flipping over to the hosts, Danny Ings is expected to at least be named to the squad here, after missing the last two league matches.
Left back Matt Targett is a doubt due to a head injury, while Southampton FC Captain Ryan Bertrand is back after a one game ban.
Manchester United vs Southampton FC FYIs
United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Mourinho Press Conference video and quotes: coming Friday
Kick-off/TV: 530 pm (BST), Saturday December 1, St. Mary’s, BT Sport 1
Odds via William Hill: United 88/100 Draw 26/5 Southampton FC 10/3
Prediction: United 1, Southampton FC 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.