STAR PREVIEW Mon: Man U v Southampton

One Manchester side will have designs on Europe next season as Manchester City successfully overturned their two-year ban from European club competitions this morning, and Manchester United could well be joining them in the competition next season.

Champions League football has looked unattainable for much of the season, but the return of key injury absentees – especially in midfield – has been a major benefit of the lockdown for them and we’re now seeing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side begin to fulfil their potential.

Since a 1-1 draw against Tottenham (when David De Gea will have been furious with himself for not saving Steven Bergwijn’s effort) the reds have impressed in league wins against Sheffield United, Brighton, Bournemouth and Aston Villa (all 3-0, bar a 5-2 victory against Bournemouth).

Man Utd v Southampton
Premier League
20:00 Sky One HD / Sky Sports Premier League HD / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Ultra HD / Pick

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches, since 2010)
AUG 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 1-1 Manchester United
MAR 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 3-2 Southampton
DEC 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 2-2 Manchester United
DEC 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 0-0 Southampton
SEP 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 0-1 Manchester United
MAY 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
FEB 2017 EFL CUP Manchester United 3-2 Southampton
AUG 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 2-0 Southampton
JAN 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
SEP 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 2-3 Manchester United

Their a 3-0 win at Aston Villa on Thursday night means they became the first team in Premier League history to win four successive games by a margin of three or more goals, and at the heart of this has been Bruno Fernandes, deservedly named Premier League player of the month for both for the second month in succession. Fernandes has five goals and three assists since the restart, and he has also been helped hugely by his partnership with the back in form Paul Pogba, who is now looking like the player that brought such excitement when he arrived at Old Trafford.

That pairing have unleashed the best out of a deep forward line-up for United, with Mason Greenwood scoring four goals in his last three games, whilst Anthony Martial is playing with much more confidence, as his hat-trick against Sheffield United (and a good finish against Bournemouth) shows. Marcus Rashford hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet, but is linking well with the attacking line-up that has made United one of the most potent attacking sides post lockdown.

Their task will be much harder against Southampton tonight, however. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have been making steady progress since the league’s restart, winning three of their five games – including a backs to the wall success against Manchester City – and being unlucky not to make it four when drawing at Everton last time out as James Ward-Prowse hit the bar with a penalty and they won the expected goals count 2.30 to 1.04 (Infogol).

Danny Ings has proven crucial to this run of form, with the striker now having 19 league goals, and he’s of interest as a first goal scorer option. Ings has opened the scoring first against Norwich, Watford, and Everton, and 15/2 about him doing so tonight feels like a potential value bet, especially as Southampton are comfortable playing on the road – they’ve won 27 points in 17 away games, just one point fewer than Manchester City.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Danny Ings First Goalscorer 1 pt at 15/2 with

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