Manchester United travel to Southampton in the early kick-off on Saturday as the Premier League returns after the international break.
Erik ten Hag’s side are already under plenty of pressure after just three matches of the new season, with a bruising 3-0 loss to Liverpool last time out increasing the speculation over the manager’s future.
And the Dutchman needs a convincing result to lift the mood following back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Liverpool, amid stinging criticism from former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo this week.
Southampton boss Russell Martin is hoping to avoid a fourth league defeat in a row, with the newly promoted Saints yet to pick up any points so far on the return to the top flight, but the home crowd will be up for the occasion.
Follow all the latest build-up, score updates and reaction from Southampton vs Manchester United and across the Premier League below:
Southampton vs Man Utd LIVE
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Manchester United visit Southampton in the Premier League | Live on TNT
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United lost 3-0 to Liverpool last time out with the pressure mounting on Erik ten Hag
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Newly promoted Southampton have lost all of their Premier League games so far this season
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41’ GOAL! Marcus Rashford scores first goal since March to double United’s lead [SOU 0-2 MUN]
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35’ GOAL! Matthijs de Ligt scores header moments after Archer misses penalty [SOU 0-1 MUN]
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33’ PENALTY SAVED! Cameron Archer misses from spot as Andre Onana saves [SOU 0-0 MUN]
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15’ CHANCE! Zirkzee can’t make contact with Eriksen cross from six yards [SOU 0-0 MUN]
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7’ SAVE! Southampton’s Dibling, 18, forces early save on Premier League debut [SOU 0-0 MUN]
Southampton FC 0 – 2 Manchester United FC
13:28 , Jamie Braidwood
That was Marcus Rashford’s first goal for Manchester United since the FA Cup quarter-final win against Liverpool in March 2024 – 181 days ago.
You could see how much it meant to him after a difficult start to the season.
HALF TIME! Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
13:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag and Russell Martin head into the break preparing very different team talks than if Cameron Archer had converted Southampton’s penalty at 0-0. Instead, Andre Onana saved well down low to his right, and within eight minutes goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford had put the visitors two goals up.
Welcome to the Premier League.
Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
13:17 , Jamie Braidwood
45 mins: There were just eight minutes between Archer’s miss and Rashford’s goal, which put United 2-0 up. It could have got even worse for Southampton, but Ramsdale makes a brave block to deny De Ligt from the corner. The defending from Southampton was all over the place again following the set-piece.
There are four minutes of added time and the whistle can’t come soon enough for the hosts.
GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Manchester United (RASHFORD 41’)
13:12 , Jamie Braidwood
Oh that’s a huge goal for Marcus Rashford – his first for Manchester United since March! And it doubles Manchester United’s lead at St Mary’s!
How quickly this match has turned: moments before, Rashford had a shot saved down low by Ramsdale on the break, and the goal came from the corner.
United took it short, worked it to Rashford, and the forward’s low strike from the angle crept inside the post. The defending from Southampton was poor. Rashford was left unmarked.
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Manchester United (DE LIGT 34’)
13:05 , Jamie Braidwood
A HUGE couple of moments for Manchester United!
Southampton could have been ahead. Instead, Bruno Fernandes swings in a stunning cross from a short corner and finds De Ligt at the back post.
The Dutch centre-back rises and nods a header across goal and into the far corner. His first goal for Manchester United, and just moments after that Cameron Archer miss.
SAVED! Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
13:03 , Jamie Braidwood
33 mins: SAVED! Onana goes the right way and saves down low! Archer gets a chance on the rebound but the header is soft and Onana saves again!
PENALTY! Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
13:01 , Jamie Braidwood
TYLER DIBLING! What an impact from the 18-year-old winger! He beats Dalot with ease around the outside, and is chopped down by the full-back.
But was this inside or outside the box?!
It’s inside! VAR confirms it. Huge chance for Southampton to take the lead.
Cameron Archer will take it.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:58 , Jamie Braidwood
26 mins: Kobbie Mainoo is the first player in the book after handling the ball on the ground. Fernandes plays a loose pass and Mainoo is caught by Ugochukwu. After falling to the ground, Mainoo gathers the ball with his hands.
Down the other end, Dibling attacks Dalot and wins a free kick near the corner. And it leads to a chance! Ugochukwu is left unmarked, and heads over from eight yards! Big chance.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:55 , Jamie Braidwood
23 mins: Dalot is struggling at left back, and the rampaging Sugawara is able to cut inside him with ease. The full-back bends a cross towards the back post, and it takes an important clearance from De Ligt to cut out the danger with Archer lurking.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:52 , Jamie Braidwood
19 mins: It’s end-to-end stuff now at St Mary’s. Walker-Peters wriggles past De Ligt on the byline to set up a chance for Archer, until United clear.
Down the other end, Fernandes makes the break but drags his shot wide on his left foot.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:46 , Jamie Braidwood
15’ CHANCE! United with their best move of the day – and they should be ahead! Eriksen puts in a clever ball, sliding across the face of goal, and it finds Joshua Zirkzee six yards out! Stretching, Zirkzee makes contact but can’t get enough onto it to trouble Ramsdale, who collects.
Should be 1-0.
Moments later, Mazraoui hits a volley from a cleared corner, but it’s straight at Ramsdale.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:43 , Jamie Braidwood
12 mins: United can’t get out, or keep the ball. Southampton keep coming, as Walker-Peters feeds a ball into Archer in the box. De Ligt gets over and is forceful in the tackle, but Southampton maintain their attacking momentum.
United need some control.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:38 , Jamie Braidwood
7 mins: SAVE! Wow! Almost a stunning moment for the 18-year-old Premier League debutant Tyler Dibling! The teenager goes on a run down the right wing, looking confident on his left foot. He cuts inside and bends a shot towards the far post, but Onana saves!
Almost electric. Even that run and shot from Dibling has raised the mood in St Mary’s. The hosts are looking confident.
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:35 , Jamie Braidwood
4 mins:
Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:35 , Jamie Braidwood
3 mins: A quiet start, with Rashford looking to make an early inroad down the left wing before he is shut off by Bednarek. Dalot gives the ball away cheaply on the edge of the box but Martinez steps in sharply.
KICK-OFF! Southampton 0-0 Manchester United
12:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Underway at St Mary’s! Southampton are desperate for their first point of the season after three opening defeats, while it’s “must-win” for United too. Erik ten Hag’s side have lost back-to-back games, and the last time they lost three of their first four was in 1986.
Southampton are in their usual red and white stripes while United are in the changed kit of dark blue. It’s a glorious day at St Mary’s.
Manchester United’s record against promoted sides
12:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 30 Premier League matches against promoted sides, winning 22 and drawing seven.
The defeat came in a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021, which was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final game in charge before he was sacked…
The players are out and we’re ready for kick-off!
Southampton vs Manchester United TV channel and how to watch
12:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1. Subscribers will also be able to watch via Discovery+ online and on the app.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Southampton vs Manchester United
12:24 , Jamie Braidwood
Almost ready for kick-off at St Mary’s!
Marcus Rashford ‘needs a goal’, says Erik ten Hag
12:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag on his team selection, speaking to TNT Sports:
On Christian Eriksen: “He’s had a very good preseason. Good performances. He’s earned his start.”
On Manuel Ugarte: “He had just two sessions, not even full sessions. We have to integrate him now.”
On Casemiro: “He can be in next game, the game after next game. He will play, I’m convinced he will play.”
On Marcus Rashford: “He is in a good place but he needs a goal, or an assist. That moment will come.
“He will get a moment, and then he will fly. Once strikers start scoring, they will fly.”
On today: “It’s must-win. Every game is must-win. We will not change our approach today.”
Tyler Dibling ‘deserves to play’ for Southampton, says Russell Martin
12:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Russell Martin on handing 18-year-old Tyler Dibling his Premier League debut against Manchester United:
“Tyler deserved a start before now, to be honest. I think if he was two or three years older he would have played already – so that’s on us.
“Tyler deserves to play, he’s going to be an incredible player. Today we’ll see with how he deals with the atmosphere and starting the game, because it’s very different.”
Southampton vs Manchester United
12:07 , Jamie Braidwood
A first home start for new Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The England international conceded three goals in his debut, a 3-1 defeat to Brentford before the international break.
Manchester United ‘still in transition period’, says Erik ten Hag
12:01 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United remain on track but has blamed their poor start to the season on injuries and absenses.
“I have said before we are still in a transition period. We have to integrate a lot of young players also in the team,” he said.
“We are still dealing with injuries, we have to bring the injuries (injured players) back in the team. Before anyone thinks about excuses, no, we have to win every game.
“I know that, the team knows this and it doesn’t matter who is available. We will focus on every game and have in every game the mindset that we have to win.”
Southampton vs Manchester United: Russell Martin responds to criticism
11:48 , Jamie Braidwood
Russell Martin brushed off criticism of his tactics ahead of facing Manchester United, with his Southampton side coming into the contest having lost their opening three games of the season.
“It’s the same last season, we had a period at the start where we had a really tough time and then people can say what they want with very little recourse and will judge us based on a highlights reel of eight minutes so I treat it all the same,” Martin, who led the Saints to promotion via the play-offs last season, said on Thursday.
“Because those same people who said things after losing four games last season spoke about what a brilliant job I did at the end of the season.
“There were people that called me a terrible appointment for the club and said they needed to make a change after losing four games. There will be the same people doing that now after three games, three defeats, so I treat it all the same.”
Southampton vs Manchester United
11:36 , Jamie Braidwood
Southampton have not beaten Manchester United in their last 14 attempts, a winless run that stretches back to a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in January 2016 (Charlie Austin struck an 87th minute winner).
Southampton have not beaten Manchester United at home since August 2003. They surely have to fancy their chances today!
Southampton vs Manchester United
11:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag out on the St Mary’s pitch for an early walk before kick-off.
Manchester United team news and line-ups
11:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Casemiro or Ugarte? Neither! A big call from Erik ten Hag as he drops the Brazilian and recalls Christian Eriksen into midfield. Alejandro Garnacho is also on the bench, as Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford start.
Russell Martin has also made some interesting changes to his team after three defeats. He hands a Premier League debut to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling, and also hands a start to new signing Cameron Archer up front.
Manchester United team news and line-ups
11:17 , Jamie Braidwood
Southampton XI: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Bednarek, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Ugochukwu, Downes, Fernandes, Dibling, Archer, Brereton Díaz.
Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
Manchester United team news and line-ups
11:12 , Jamie Braidwood
We’ll have the team news and line-ups from St Mary’s in the next few minutes.
Casemiro or Ugarte?
Erik ten Hag backs Casemiro following Liverpool display
11:00 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag also backed Casemiro following the former Real Madrid midfielder’s poor performance in the defeat to Liverpool, in which he was hooked at half-time after being responsible for the Reds’ first two goals.
“[We] definitely need him, for sure,” Ten Hag said. “And of course I speak with him about the situation, but everyone can have a bad at the office, or do you never have a bad day at the office?
“He is experienced and it’s not the first time, I guess, he has dealt with a bad game and now he has to overcome this one as well.
But that is normal in life. You have highs and you have lows. That is in your life and also in the life of a football player, only for a football player of course that is obvious. There are many observing this and have an opinion about this and also you have to deal with this.
“But he knows how to deal with it and nobody’s career goes only up, no team level, team pattern is only going up.
“You have to deal with it but then it’s about what is the end result.”
Erik ten Hag talks up Manuel Ugarte ahead of potential Man Utd deubt
10:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United could hand a debut to Manuel Ugarte following the midfielder’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.
Ugarte was signed too late to be in United’s squad against Liverpool but is set to be included ahead of the trip to Southampton, despite only returning from international duty with Uruguay on Thursday.
Ugarte, who was signed for an intital £41.1m, caught Ten Hag’s eye when his Ajax side faced Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League three years ago.
“I played him already as manager of Ajax when we faced Sporting Lisbon,” Ten Hag said. “He’s quite a long time on my radar.
“He’s coming in, a late transfer coming in, but he’s playing in a very important position. You have to connect defending with attacking, and attacking with defending.
“Communication is very important there to guide the team, to lead the team, to make the connection between attacking and defence, defence and attacking.”
Erik ten Hag dismisses Cristiano Ronaldo criticism
10:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag shrugged off the criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo by saying that the Portuguese star is far away from Manchester and implying he is out of touch with events at his old club.
“He is far away in Saudi [Arabia], far away from Manchester. Everyone can have an opinion and is entitled to an opinion, it is OK,” Ten Hag said.
While Ten Hag insisted Ronaldo was allowed to have his view, he argued the Portuguese, who claimed United needed to rebuild from the bottom up, was dismissing United’s chances.
“No, he said that, that Manchester United can’t win the Premier League, if you read the article very well,” he said.
Cristiano Ronaldo attacks Erik ten Hag’s mentality
10:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag this week came under attack from former Manchester United great Cristiano Ronaldo, who revived his fued with his former manager by criticising his mentality.
Ronaldo’s second spell at Old Trafford was ended in 2022 when his contract was terminated following an explosive and unauthorised interview in which he said he felt “betrayed” by United and had “no respect” for Ten Hag.
He told his former teammate Rio Ferdinand, for the latter’s podcast: “The coach … they say they cannot compete to win the [Premier] League and Champions League. [If you are] Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the league or Champions League.
“You have to be, to mentally say, ‘listen, maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try.’ You have to try.”
Cristiano Ronaldo attacks Ten Hag’s losers mentality at Man United
Manchester United back Erik Ten Hag despite speculation
10:00 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United insisted before the international break that Erik ten Hag retains the backing of the club’s new owners.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth believe Ten Hag is the “right coach” for United, though he took them to their lowest ever Premier League finish, in eighth, and has started the current campaign with two defeats in three games.
Berrada and Ashworth took up their new posts in July, after Ten Hag won the FA Cup but United spoke to other managers and then opted not to replace him.
Manchester United looking to avoid worst start in 38 years
09:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United have lost two of their opening three games of the season – the last time they lost three of their opening four was in 1986 under Ron Atkinson.
Erik ten Hag’s side could lose three consecutive Premier League gmes for the first time in nine years if they lost at Southampton today.
The pressure is already on the Dutchman, as United look to avoid their worst start to a league season in 38 years.
Southampton vs Manchester United predicted line-ups
09:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Southampton XI: Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Sugawara, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Brereton Díaz.
Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
Manchester United team news
09:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Manuel Ugarte is available for selection despite only coming back from South America on Thursday but Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund will miss out again. Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro and Mason Mount remain on the sidelines but Bruno Fernandes is fit despite picking up a minor knock in Portugal’s Nations League win over Scotland.
Southampton team news
09:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Southampton are without keeper Gavin Bazunu and forward Kamaldeen Sulemana but Ben Brereton Diaz is available having come out of international duty relatively unscathed. After a long spell on the sidelines Scotland striker Ross Stewart is close to a return and could make the matchday squad, along with new arrivals Maxwel Cornet and Ryan Fraser.
Southampton vs Manchester United TV channel and how to watch
09:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am. Subscribers will also be able to watch via Discovery+ online and on the app.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
When is Southampton vs Manchester United?
09:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Southampton vs Manchester United kicks off at 12.30pm BST on Saturday 14 September at St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
Good morning
09:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United travel down to Southampton in the early kick-off on Saturday as the Premier League returns after the autumn international break.
Erik ten Hag’s side are under plenty of pressure as the league campaign resumes, with the Dutchman’s future called into question after a 3-0 loss to Liverpool last time out.
A convincing win over the Saints would ease some of the pressure on ten Hag, though a loss would likely see him face perhaps the most intense pressure of his tenure to date.
And while the result is the most important thing, the performance will be viewed with almost equal interest among fans and the United hierarchy as questions continue over the Dutchman’s style of play.
Russell Martin is already under some pressure after three straight losses to open the season, though a loss to United is unlikely to be viewed as a deal-breaker this early into the season.