Southampton vs. Manchester United: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Manchester United have seemingly turned a corner in their Premier League season, with four wins on the spin putting them very much in line for a top-four finish and a welcome return to the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Southampton have European football ambitions of their own, but a tricky set of fixtures has called their credentials into question despite an encouraging start to the campaign.
The Saints’ tough time isn’t set to come to an end any time soon, either, with Manchester United’s visit on Monday night posing another test for Ronald Koeman’s side.
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Date: Monday, December 8
Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (U.K. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)/NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
United Looking to Continue Fine Form
Manchester United’s recent 2-1 victory over Stoke City summed up how they’re developing as a side this year. Although they weren’t at their free-flowing best, they did enough to cross the line against stubborn opposition.
That will stand the Red Devils in good stead for their visit to St. Mary’s, as Southampton will likely give Louis van Gaal’s men the room they need to operate at their best.
They will be further boosted by the return of club captain Wayne Rooney, who according to the Dutch manager has recovered from his knee injury, as BBC Sport revealed:
The fixture will come too soon for Angel di Maria, which means that United are likely to make one change from the side that beat Stoke, with Rooney replacing youngster James Wilson.
Radamel Falcao is also in contention for a place in the side, should Van Gaal decide to give Robin van Persie a rest.
A win will see United leapfrog Southampton and move into third place, and that’s something that Ashley Young believes is possible despite the Saints’ strong start to the campaign, as he told the club’s official website:
"When you are winning games then confidence is always sky high. When you have been on a run of wins—both at home and away—then it is fantastic for confidence. Everybody is pulling in the right direction and feeling good and we will take that into the game against Southampton. It is going to be a big game and there are definitely no easy games in the Premier League. Southampton have started the season very well and are third in the league, so we know it is going to be tough. But if we can go there and produce displays like we have shown, especially in the last four matches, then I'm sure we can get the three points.
"
Southampton are in the top three for a reason, though, and they were unlucky not to come away from their midweek clash at Arsenal with at least a point.
Koeman has got the Saints playing some adventurous, appealing football, with Graziano Pelle at the heart of it all.
The striker played under Van Gaal during his time at AZ Alkmaar, and the United boss recently sung his former player’s praises, per Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail:
"I am not surprised by Pelle because I knew when I bought him at AZ, he was an attacking (focal) point for the team. I’ve said about Robin van Persie that I like strikers who are an attacking point, not only a striker who scores goals. Pelle also scores goals but Van Persie also scores goals. Attacking point is very important. He is also very creative. He is always seeing the third man. Van Persie is also always seeing the third man. Those kind of strikers are the ones I like. It may be a surprise that he scored 10 goals—that is a lot—but he can do it. I knew that.
"
How United tame Pelle may be the telling factor of the match, but United’s defence has looked far more solid in recent matches and should be up to the task of keeping him quiet.
The Saints have a lot to prove in their hunt for European football, but taking on a confident and consistent Manchester United side could prove a step too far for Koeman’s men.
It’s bound to be an entertaining, attacking match, and one that will see United’s strong form continue.
Prediction: Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
