Manchester United vs Southampton

Old Trafford sets the stage for a high-stakes midweek Premier League clash between Manchester United and Southampton. 

Manchester United picked up a timely confidence boost ahead of their first home league match of 2025, defying a numerical disadvantage to beat Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup third round. Ruben Amorim’s side also upset the apple cart in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool to start a new calendar year after losing five Premier League in December – their most league defeats in a calendar month since September 1962. Stuck in 15th in the table, the Red Devils will be out to avoid losing four consecutive home outings in top-flight action for the first time since 1930. Southampton’s visit bodes well, considering the hosts are unbeaten across their last 15 Premier League H2Hs (W7, D8), including a 3-0 victory in September’s reverse fixture at St Mary’s Stadium.

On the other hand, Southampton’s new boss Ivan Juric can’t catch a break in league football, with the Saints losing all three such games under his stewardship, including a dismal 5-0 home defeat to Brentford last time out. A 3-0 triumph against second-tier Swansea City in the FA Cup at the weekend may have eased tensions in the traveling camp but didn’t change the fact they remain nailed to the bottom of the Premier League standings with just one win from the first 20 games (D3, L16). Unsurprisingly a whopping ten points adrift of safety, Southampton hit the round in pursuit of a first Premier League away win after 17 winless road trips (D4, L13). Old Trafford is the last venue to seek a way out of this crisis, knowing 13 of Southampton’s 14 most recent top-flight visits here have ended in defeat.