Match Pack: Man United vs Saints

Manchester United vs Saints

Premier League

Old Trafford

Sunday 12th March, 2pm GMT

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Assistants: Gary Beswick, Lee Betts

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

VAR: Andre Marriner

Assistant VAR: Marc Perry

Saints will be in their all blue away kit for the trip to Old Trafford.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Sunday’s game holds significant importance for both sides for differing reasons.

Saints will be looking at it as a chance to continue momentum, having won at St Mary’s against Leicester City last week and moving off the bottom of the table.

Now to within a point of safety, back-to-back victories could see Rubén Sellés’s side move to as high as 15th.

Last weekend saw hosts United fare slightly differently, looking to get back on track following the 7-0 defeat at Anfield.

Erik ten Haag’s side already made the first step towards a recovery on Thursday night, seeing off Real Betis 4-1 at Old Trafford in the Europa League.

TEAM NEWS

Saints are still waiting to hear the news on the fitness of Saturday's matchwinner Charly Alcaraz, who suffered a knee injury after scoring against Leicester City.

"Charly is doing better,” he said. “He made training today and we still need to see if he will be in the squad or not. Tomorrow will be the final test."

Elsewhere there are no fresh injury concerns with Tino Livramento and Juan Larios the only absentees.

For United, Marcel Sabitzer, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek all missed their Europa League clash with Real Betis, as did Anthony Martial who is coming closer to a return.

“We want to be a big team, we want to bring trophies, so then you have to act different and I think, after Sunday, we got a big lesson, we take that, but now we have to move on and we have to look forward.

“So that is the way we treated it, and now all the energy, all the focus, has to be on the next game."

“We’re getting better in what we’re doing and we’re getting better every week. I’m pleased with that, but I want more.

“We know Old Trafford will be pushing them forward. We are working with our principles and how we attack the game. It’s not an easy task but we’ll be ready.”

His blank at Liverpool last weekend was only the second weekend since mid-November a rejuvenated Marcus Rashford failed to find the net in the Premier League.

The Premier League Player of the Month for February has 10 goals in his last 11 games, seven of these coming in front of the home support at Old Trafford.

If his performance at home to Leicester is anything to go by, momentum is starting to build for one half of Saints’ deadline day recruits.

His mixture of speed and close control could prove vital for the visitors on Sunday, who will be looking to make the most of transitions and counter attacks in a similar fashion to how Liverpool did.

Rashford 14

Bruno Fernandes 5

Sancho 4

Eriksen 7

Bruno Fernandes 6

Rashford, Casemiro 3

Adams 9

Ward-Prowse 8

Perraud 4

Adams, Ward-Prowse 3

Perraud, Mara, Elyounoussi 2

Played: 132

Man United: 68

Draws: 36

Saints: 28

August 2022: Saints 0-1 Man United

February 2022: Man United 1-1 Saints (Adams)

August 2021: Saints 1-1 Man United (Fred og)

February 2021: Man United 9-0 Saints

November 2020: Saints 2-3 Man United (Bednarek, Ward-Prowse)

DID YOU KNOW?

-       James Ward-Prowse has scored 27% of his direct free-kick shots in the Premier League this season (3 out of 11)

-       All six of Saints’ Premier League wins this season have been by a one-goal margin

-       Saints are the only team to have won more than half of their Premier League points in away games so far this season (57%)

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