Manchester Utd vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-03-11 14:00.
Manchester United displayed their resilience in midweek, responding to their 7-0 drubbing at Anfield last weekend with a rampant 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League. Manager Erik ten Hag said he was âvery gratefulâ for the support of the home crowd and their loyalty is certainly being rewarded with results this term, with the Red Devils unbeaten in 20 consecutive matches at Old Trafford (W18, D2).
Attention now quickly switches to consolidating a place inside the Premier League (PL) top-four, with any aspirations of chasing a first title in decade all-but over with a 14-point deficit to league leaders Arsenal ahead of this round. United certainly seem well placed to at least fend off any advances for their top-four spot though, as they boast the divisionâs joint-best home defence (GA: 8), while theyâve also scored at least twice in all but two of their games in 2023 (W14, D3, L2).
Southampton make the long journey north in good spirits, fresh from winning two of their last three PL outings âto nilâ (L1). Their latest success was a 1-0 victory over Leicester, but it still wasnât enough to impress manager RubĂ©n SellĂ©s who insisted the âperformance can be betterâ and his players may need to heed that warning considering the Saints have lost more PL games against United than any other side (29).
This is a fixture Southampton have won just twice since 2003, but the Saints can perhaps take heart from the fact both of those were 1-0 victories at Old Trafford in the PL, part of a run of just four defeats from their last nine visits to Old Trafford (W2, D3). Theyâve been more comfortable on their travels this term too, earning 12 of their 21 points on the road, but itâs been an all or nothing tale given none of their 16 competitive away games this season ended level (W6, L10).
Key battle: The next goal United score against Southampton will be their 100th against them in the PL, and Bruno Fernandes may well be the man to get it having netted in this seasonâs reverse fixture. Midfield rival James Ward-Prowse played in both the Saintsâ latest wins at United, while heâs also scored twice against the Red Devils – both ending in 3-2 defeats for Southampton.
Hot stat: Man Utd have netted at least twice in 15 successive home matches for just the fourth time in their history.