Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is looking to mount a serious title challenge this term after finishing a distant second behind Manchester City in 2020/21, and laid down an emphatic early marker with a 5-1 thrashing of rivals Leeds at Old Trafford that saw Bruno Fernandes register a stylish hat-trick and Paul Pogba lay on no fewer than four assists.
That rout saw Manchester United top the table ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool after the opening weekend and they will be favourites to record a second successive victory at St Mary’s, having become only the fourth team in the history of the English top-flight to go a whole season unbeaten away from home last year.
Southampton have been tipped to struggle this season after a topsy-turvy 2020/21 campaign that saw them top the table for a short time in November before a dreadful second half that led to a nosedive amid a slew of injuries.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Southampton vs Manchester United is scheduled for a 2pm BST kick-off on Sunday, August 22, 2021.
The match will take place at St Mary’s Stadium.
Where to watch Southampton vs Man Utd
TV channel: The match will be televised on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Sky Go.
Southampton vs Man Utd team news
Southampton are set to remain without academy graduates Sam McQueen and Will Smallbone, who are both sidelined with knee injuries.
Manchester United were boosted ahead of their thumping of Leeds by the overdue unveiling of £42million signing Raphael Varane, who will hope to play some part on the south coast.
Fellow high-profile new recruit Jadon Sancho made his debut with a 15-minute cameo on opening day and was part of a strong Manchester United lineup for a behind-closed-doors practice match against Burnley at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The likes of Jesse Lingard, Harry Maguire, Fred, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and Tom Heaton also featured in that 3-1 win, though there was no Varane.
Manchester United are still without Marcus Rashford (shoulder) and Alex Telles (ankle), though goalkeeper Dean Henderson - who, like Lingard, has been recovering after testing positive for Covid-19 - could return to contention this weekend.
Likewise Edinson Cavani, who scored two goals off the bench in a memorable fightback at St Mary’s last season. He has now completed a mandatory period of isolation following his return from Uruguay after Copa America.
Southampton vs Man Utd prediction
Manchester United were absolutely irresistible in the second half against Leeds, with Fernandes and Pogba unplayable as they ran the show, but the likes of Scott McTominay also hugely influential.
If they can rediscover those sorts of consistently dominant home performances and maintain last season’s incredible away form, then a genuine title tilt could really be on the cards this term.
Southampton will be firmly up against it here with horrible memories of last season’s meetings with Manchester United when they led 2-0 at home and lost 3-2 before being humiliated 9-0 at Old Trafford in February.
Away win.
Southampton 1-3 Manchester United.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Southampton wins: 7
Manchester United wins: 28
Draws: 9
Southampton has not beaten Manchester United in any competition since January 2016 - a run of 11 matches.
On that day, Charlie Austin netted on his Saints debut as Louis van Gaal’s United were booed off at Old Trafford.
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