The fourth gameweek of the 2022–23 Premier League season begins on Saturday, and from this weekend onward, matches are expected to be played frequently.
Southampton will welcome Manchester United at St. Mary’s in the opening round of the most recent round of matches. Both teams are aiming to build on their first victory of the season.
Southampton VS Manchester United Preview
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Southampton suffered a severe loss against Tottenham to open the 2022–23 campaign. But Ralph Hasenhuttl would have been encouraged by the enthusiasm his players shown in the first half and built on it to win two straight games.
The Saints drew 2-2 with Leeds United in Gameweek 2 before defeating Leicester City the following weekend to move up to 11th place in the Premier League standings.
Manchester United, on the other hand, made their debut earlier this week on Monday with a shocking 2-1 victory over longtime rival Liverpool.
The Red Devils lost their first two games of the season, to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend and Brentford two weeks later.
However, Erik ten Hag’s team will be encouraged by their performance against Liverpool.
Manchester United rallied from a goal behind to hold Southampton to a 1-1 draw in the comparable game last season.
The Hard Tackle examines the encounter in more detail before the most recent meeting between the two parties.
Tactics & Team News
Prior to Manchester United’s visit to St. Mary’s, Ralph Hasenhuttl has welcomed good team news.
With Valentino Livramento nursing a long-term injury, the Southampton boss will only be without one first-team player on Saturday.
The good news is that Romain Perraud has fully recovered from his injury and is back in the gym in preparation for the upcoming match against Manchester United this weekend.
Despite a recent fitness test, the French defender is expected to start on Saturday, moving Moussa Djenepo to a more advanced position on the left flank.
For Southampton, Perraud will start at left-back, with Kyle Walker-Peters deciding to line up on the right side.
With Gavin Bazunu starting in goal for Southampton, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu should form a central defensive pairing.
In the centre of the pitch, James Ward-Prowse has welcomed Romeo Lavia’s companionship as the two try to limit the Saturday influence of Manchester United’s artistic midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen.
During set-piece scenarios, Ward-Prowse will also be a threat.
Adam Armstrong will be benched because Djenepo will start on the left side. And following his game-winning effort against Leicester City, Che Adams is an obvious choice to lead the Southampton assault against Manchester United.
Joe Aribo will start on the right flank, with Mohamed Elyounoussi returning to the centre.
MANCHESTER United
Erik ten Hag’s preparations for the trip to St. Mary’s are being hampered by a new injury issue, unlike his counterpart in the Southampton dugout.
On Saturday, the manager of Manchester United will be missing four members of the first team.
Due to an Achilles injury, Anthony Martial will not play against Southampton. The other notable absentee for Manchester United is Victor Lindelof, who is currently suffering from a knock.
Facundo Pellistri and Brandon Williams, in addition to Lindelof, are on the sidelines and won’t participate for the visitors against Southampton.
The side that defeated Liverpool on Monday should see just minor adjustments from Erik ten Hag.
But on Saturday, he’ll probably give Casemiro his professional debut, replacing Scott McTominay at the Manchester United midfield’s basis with the Brazilian international.
The Red Devils’ creative leaders, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen, should keep their positions.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the starting lineup will likely be the only other alteration, with Martial serving as the likely starter if he were healthy.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who both scored against Liverpool, are selected as Manchester United’s wide attackers against Southampton.
With Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia starting as the full-backs once more, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez should continue to develop their central defensive relationship after their incredible performance against Liverpool.
David de Gea starts in goal for Manchester United in their matchup with Southampton.
Key Figures
♦ Since a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in January 2016, Southampton has gone winless in their past 12 Premier League contests against Manchester United (D7 L5).
♦The Red Devils have lost just once in 14 league visits to St. Mary’s (W8 D5) and are unbeaten in their last 11 games at the venue since a 1-0 setback in August 2003, when they last played Southampton at the Dell, where they had lost four of their previous six league games.
♦ Southampton has given up more goals against Manchester United in the Premier League than they have against any other opponent (98). If Manchester United scores twice in this match, Southampton will be the fifth different Premier League team that they have scored 100+ goals against.
♦ Southampton has lost five of their past seven home Premier League games (W1 D1), with their 1-0 win over Arsenal being the only contest during this run in which they did not give up at least two goals.
♦ Since December 1936, Manchester United has lost all one of their last seven away games in the league (run of ten). In four of these losses, they have given up four goals, matching the number of times they have given up four or more goals in their previous 143 away league games.
♦ Marcus Rashford is attempting to score in successive Premier League games for the first time since January, when he scored against West Ham United and Brentford, both times as a substitute, following his goal against Liverpool on Monday.
Since Boxing Day 2020 against Leicester City, Rashford has not scored in an away Premier League goal when starting a game.
Player to Match
Casemiro
Only Casemiro is deserving of being featured in this area this weekend.
The Brazilian midfielder will want to make an immediate impact against Southampton after formally joining Manchester United in front of a raucous Old Trafford crowd earlier this week.
Given that the Brazilian has already participated in one competitive match this season, Erik ten Hag has no reason to ease him into the lineup. With Casemiro in the starting lineup, the stability in the middle of the park should immediately improve, giving Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane plenty of cover.
Prediction
Manchester United 1-2 Southampton
The contest pits two teams against one another in an effort to turn around dismal records. For the first time since February, Southampton will be hungry to improve at home and secure back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
Manchester United, on the other hand, will aim to win two straight Premier League games for the first time since February.
As a result, the game on Saturday should be a classic battle with both teams vying for the goal.
Even if Southampton scores early, a driven Cristiano Ronaldo should turn the tide and give his team the victory. The Hard Tackle projects that Erik ten Hag’s team will triumph 2-1.
