Southampton v Manchester United betting tips
- Both teams to score and United to win – 21/10 Betfred
- Bruno Fernandes to score from outside the box – 14/1 Bet365
- Adam Armstrong to score at any time – 19/10 TalkSport Bet
Manchester United travel to Southampton in the early kick-off on Saturday looking to kickstart a season which hasn’t gone to plan so far (kick-off 12.30pm TNT Sports and Discovery+).
Erik ten Hag’s side have just three points on the board from their opening three games and they came courtesy of a 1-0 win over Fulham on the opening day of the season.
Since then they have been beaten 2-1 away at Brighton before the 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool last time out.
It feels very much a case of same old, same old at Old Trafford despite spending just over £190m during the summer transfer window and betting sites have pushed United out to 80/1 to win the Premier League this season.
Joshua Zirkzee scored the winner against Fulham on his debut but he has struggled to make an impact since and Ten Hag will be hoping his latest signing, midfielder Manuel Ugarte, can make a difference in a midfield which was outplayed and outfought by Liverpool.
The 23-year-old Uruguay international joined for an initial fee of £42.1m, from Paris St-Germain and could make his debut at St Mary’s at the weekend.
Southampton have also struggled so far this season as they adapt to life back in the Premier League following their promotion.
1-0 defeats at Newcastle and at home to Nottingham Forest were followed by a 3-1 loss at Brentford and football betting sites make them no bigger than 4/7 to head straight back to the Championship.
It’s already looking like a tough season for the Saints and they may have to wait a while longer to get their first points of the season.
Southampton vs Manchester United preview: Red Devils to nick it at St Mary’s
Despite United’s poor form so far, they should still have enough to beat Southampton. However, they will have to get a grip on the game in midfield, or risk being outpassed by a Saints side that likes to dominate possession, albeit they are struggling for an end product.
History also supports an away victory. Southampton have failed to win any of their last 14 meetings with United, but eight of those clashes have finished all square. Their last win was in January 2016 when Charlie Austin scored with three minutes remaining to secure a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League visits to Southampton, since another 1-0 defeat back in 2003.
A defeat for Southampton would be their 400th in the Premier League from 928 games. They would become only the fifth team in history to do so but in the fewest number of games – West Ham 976, Aston Villa 1,072, Newcastle 1,090, Everton 1,128.
Punters can find United at 4/5 on betting apps with Southampton 7/2 outsiders. The clash is unlikely to be as cut and dry as the odds suggest though and throwing in both teams to score bumps up United’s price to win for a meeting of the two sides that have made the most errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season.
Southampton v Man United prediction 1: Both teams to score and United to win – 21/10 Betfred
Southampton vs Manchester United tips: Fernandes ready to fire
Manchester United have scored around three goals fewer than their xG suggests they should have so far this season, with just two goals in three games, which is the biggest difference in the competition.
In total, they have managed 33 shots, 12 on target, resulting in goals for Zirkzee and Amad Diallo.
If United are to win, you feel it will need a big performance from skipper Bruno Fernandes, who has yet to score this season but has had a quarter of United’s shots on target.
He has now gone six games without a goal for United, his last two coming against Sheffield United back in April, but that was the end of a scoring spree which saw him net seven times in five games in all competitions.
Since then, he has scored four goals for Portugal, including the equaliser against Scotland on Sunday before Cristiano Ronaldo bagged the winner.
He’s 12/5 to score anytime, but it was a long-range effort that beat Scotland’s Angus Gunn in Lisbon and we’re going for the same again this weekend.
Southampton v Man United prediction 2: Bruno Fernandes to score from outside the box – 14/1 Bet365
Southampton vs Man Utd betting tips: Armstrong to find his feet
Adam Armstrong missed a glorious opportunity last time out against Brentford and has yet to open his account from the seven shots he’s managed this season.
The former Blackburn striker was instrumental in the Saints’ success last season with 24 goals, including two in the play-off semi-final against West Brom and then the winner in the final against Leeds to secure promotion.
Southampton need Armstrong to find that form in the Premier League, where he has still managed just four goals in 71 appearances in his career.
United haven’t looked convincing at the back so far this season with Ten Hag trying a range of different defensive pairings without any real success. Harry Maguire was left out of the starting lineup against Liverpool before coming on and shoring things up at the back.
He returned to the England side for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ireland but whether he did enough to earn a spot in the United side, only Ten Hag knows
It seems possinle Armstrong will get at least one chance against United, and it’s up to him to take it.
Southampton vs Manchester United prediction 3: Adam Armstrong to score at any time – 19/10 TalkSport Bet
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