Evening Standard
·13 de janeiro de 2025
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·13 de janeiro de 2025
Man Utd must back up a promising start to 2025 with a resounding win at Old Trafford
Manchester United are finally building momentum under Ruben Amorim as they prepare to face Premier League whipping boys Southampton.
A draw away at Liverpool was followed by beating Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup, having played for an hour with 10 men, and now face what they hope will be a far easier contest.
Southampton have picked up just two points from the last 30 available and are destined for the drop and while manager Ivan Jurić recorded his first win, at the fourth attempt, since taking over, it was against lower-league Swansea City in the FA Cup.
Manchester United vs Southampton is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
The match will take place at Old Trafford.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
United will be without Diogo Dalot following his red card against Arsenal, which has resulted in a one-game ban, while Marcus Rashford is unlikely to be involved due to the ongoing uncertainty over his future.
Amad Diallo is the most likely to replace Dalot at right wing-back, while the likes of Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia could come in to freshen up the defence after a gruelling 120 minutes at the Emirate Stadium.
Alejandro Garnacho appears to have done enough to impress Amorim in recent weeks so could keep his place, while Joshua Zirkzee may come in for Ramus Hojlund, who started the FA Cup clash.
It's a case of as you were for Southampton, who will be without Jack Stephens and Ross Stewart. Flynn Downes is working back towards fitness but this game will likely come too soon.
Bruno Fernandes said on the pitch at the Emirates on Sunday that the focus was immediately on this game, and he was right to do so. United have managed to get results at the three best teams in the country - Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal - but it is against the weaker teams where they produced far weaker performances.
However, very few teams leave the field after facing Southampton without points - it’s happened just once in 20 games this season - so United have no excuse. Fail to win, and win well, will eradicate the promising signs on show since the start of 2025.
Man Utd to win, 2-0.
Man Utd wins: 69
Draws: 37
Southampton wins: 28
Man Utd: 2/9
Draw: 7/2
Southampton: 15/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).