Third-place Manchester United host fourth-place Southampton this Sunday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN, headlining the first weekend action of 2015. NBC’s lead Premier League play-by-play announcer Arlo White calls the match, joined by former Manchester United player and assistant coach Phil Neville, at Old Trafford. Former English footballer and BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and analyst Graeme Le Saux host on-site studio coverage.
Given United’s stellar home form this season, three points is expected. Especially when you consider that the Red Devils (many would say undeservedly) got a victory at St. Mary’s earlier this season. That’s substantial because United’s road form has been poor much of the season.
Just over halfway through the 2014-15 Premier League season, Premier League Live’s Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Kyle Martino and Robbie Mustoe look back on the first half of the season and what to expect going forward:
Martino: “2014 was a year of surprise. Not the Chelsea-Manchester City two-horse race, but most things below them. Manchester United and Southampton breaking into the top four, and in Merseyside, both Liverpool and Everton well below their high-water mark from this time last year, have been a head scratchers for most.”
Earle: “Once again, the league is proving to be the most challenging in the world. Manchester United now have, supposedly, one of the best managers in game, yet he’s had to use all of his strengths to get them back into the top four. It’s always laced with unique interest when you get two teams like West Ham and Southampton in and around the top four, knocking out some of the usual suspects.
Louis van Gaal believes that Man united will contend for the title this year. Numerous players have said that acquiring a championship is the goal. Of course, what else are they supposed to say? We know that the Van Gaal reclamation project will take time. This season is about getting back into Europe. Next year is when you can seriously think about Manchester United title contention.
Here’s the Manchester United TV info, as well as the rest of the schedule:
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 7:45 a.m. | Sunderland v. Liverpool | NBCSN, mun2 |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | Chelsea v. Newcastle | NBCSN, mun2 |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | Everton v. Manchester City | Extra Time |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | Swansea City v. West Ham | Extra Time |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | Leicester City v. Aston Villa | Extra Time |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | West Brom v. Hull City | Extra Time |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 10 a.m. | Burnley v. Queens Park Rangers | Extra Time |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 12:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace v. Tottenham | NBC |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 2:30 p.m. | Goal Zone | NBC |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | 11 p.m. | Match of the Day | NBCSN |
| Sun., Jan. 11 | 1 a.m. | Match of the Week | NBCSN |
| Sun., Jan. 11 | 7:30 a.m. | Premier League Live | NBCSN |
| Sun., Jan. 11 | 8:30 a.m. | Arsenal v. Stoke City | NBCSN |
| Sun., Jan. 11 | 11 a.m. | Manchester United v. Southampton | NBCSN, Telemundo |
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2