Having left it late to secure victory – and progression to the last 16 – in their midweek Champions League tie against Young Boys, Manchester United now refocus on domestic concerns with a trip to Southampton.
Jose Mourinho’s side are looking for their first league win in three on the South Coast but will be buoyed by the fact that the Saints haven’t won at home since April, with no victories in six games.
Former United favourite Mark Hughes looks like he might be fighting for his job at St Mary’s, after he steered the club to Premier League safety last season and a win over the Red Devils may buy him some time.
Defeat however is likely to further entrench them in another relegation battle – and could spell an exit before Christmas for the Welshman.
| Game | Southampton vs Manchester United |
| Date | Saturday, December 1 |
| Time | 5:30pm GMT / 12:30pm ET |
| Stream (US) | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Telemundo Deportes En Vivo | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on BT Sport 1 and livestreamed on the BT Sport Live app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 1 | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Southampton squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | McCarthy, Gunn, Forster, Lewis |
| Defenders | Soares, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard |
| Midfielders | Lemina, Hojbjerg, Elyounoussi, Armstrong, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Davis, Romeu |
| Forwards | Gabbiadini, Gallagher, Austin |
With the pressure weighing on them, Saints are also forced to contend without lead goalscorer Danny Ings, who misses the clash with a hamstring issue.
Matt Targett was also a doubt with a head knock and does not make the bench.
Southampton XI: McCarthy; Valery, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Stephens, Cédric; Lemina, Hojbjerg; Obafemi, Armstrong, Redmond.
| Position | Manchester United players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | De Gea, Grant, Romero |
| Defenders | Dalot, Smalling, Jones, Young, Pereira, Rojo, Bailly, Valencia |
| Midfielders | Lingard, Matic, Pogba, Darmian, McTominay, Fred, Herrera |
| Forwards | Lukaku, Mata, Martial, Rashford, Fellaini |
With Alexis Sanchez out for the foreseeable future due to a hamstring tear, Mourinho will once again rest his goalscoring hopes on Romelu Lukaku up front.
The Belgium international hasn’t scored in 12 games but has scored six in nine games against Southampton.
Man Utd XI: De Gea; Young, Jones, Matic, Shaw; McTominay, Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Pogba; Rashford, Lukaku.
Betting & Match Odds
United are 19/20 favourites to win the clash at St Mary's Stadium at bet365. Southampton can be backed at 10/3 while a draw is 5/2.
Match Preview
It took a late bit of magic from Marouane Fellaini once more, but Manchester United secured passage to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Young Boys at Old Trafford in midweek.
Now however, Jose Mourinho must jolt the Red Devils back into contention for the top six following a disappointing scoreless draw with Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League.
His side travel to a rather happy hunting ground; Southampton, themselves embroiled in another relegation battle having survived by the skin of their teeth last season.
Saints last got the better of United at home in 2003, 15 years ago, and Mark Hughes knows that history will be against his side – as well as the form book.
Without leading goalscorer Danny Ings too, the Welshman knows that his team will be up against it to produce a result.
Speculation has mounted that another loss could spell the end of his tenure - but Hughes played down such rumours earlier this week.
United have been handed a blow with the news that Alexis Sanchez will be out for a stint following an injury sustained in training.
It clears the way however from Romelu Lukaku to finally find form this season and net his first goal in 13 games.
United’s habit of making life hard for themselves this season could set this up as a tense encounter, though.