Premier League - Southampton VS Manchester United Prediction

Premier League - Southampton VS Manchester United
Match Time: 14-09-2024 19:30 Saturday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Team Analysis
Southampton has found the return to the Premier League to be as challenging as anticipated. They have yet to secure any points this season and are hovering near the relegation zone. Despite their struggles in the league, they managed a thrilling 5-3 victory over Cardiff in the League Cup, albeit requiring stoppage-time goals. The team is largely fit, with the notable absence of Gavin Bazunu due to a long-term injury. Aaron Ramsdale's recent arrival from Arsenal adds competition to their goalkeeping options.

Manchester United's start to the season has been unexpectedly difficult, leaving them near the bottom of the table alongside Southampton. The pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag, especially following a disappointing loss to Liverpool. Tactical issues, particularly risky passes close to their own goal, have been problematic. The squad is dealing with injuries to key players like Malacia, Lindelof, and Yoro, with doubts over the fitness of Højlund and Shaw. Despite these challenges, Ten Hag needs a turnaround to appease the fans and secure his position.

Head-to-Head
Despite the apparent gap in quality, Southampton has often posed a challenge to Manchester United. While United famously won 9-0 in the 2020/21 season, the subsequent four matches saw Southampton draw three times, each being tightly contested with United never scoring more than once.

Prediction
Both teams have displayed defensive vulnerabilities this season, suggesting a potentially high-scoring match. The expectation is for more than 2.5 goals during the game. Additionally, based on the recent corner statistics, the match could see over 9.5 corners. Manchester United is anticipated to edge out a victory with a predicted scoreline of 2-1, capitalizing on Southampton’s defensive frailties. It is likely that Manchester United will score more than 1.5 goals, given Southampton's high expected goals against (xGA) of 7.16.

Pick: Manchester United Total goals Over 1.5