Saturday, November 9, 2024

Sutton’s predictions: Southampton v Man Utd

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[BBC]

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-2

With three defeats out of three, Southampton have obviously not made a great start in terms of results.

There has been a lot of scrutiny of the way they play too, and of Saints boss Russell Martin’s principles in playing out from the back, with people comparing them to what Burnley were like last season.

Martin has to have a philosophy of how he wants his team to play though, so I do have sympathy for him. I don’t believe there is a narrative against him either – it is just that, in their last game, Brentford pressed them high and they made mistakes and conceded some poor goals.

It is going to be difficult for them against Manchester United too. Erik ten Hag’s side have their own issues, which means people don’t predict United’s results, they guess them. But they should – should – have too much quality for Saints.

Southampton will try to be bold but that probably means they will give up chances and, because I’ve seen Marcus Rashford has been having extra training sessions, I am going to back him and United to take them.

Femi’s prediction: 1-1

I still think United are suffering from a Sir Alex Ferguson hangover. They have not sorted the club out upstairs, even though it is more than 10 years since he left. I think they will drop more points here.

Ife’s prediction: 1-2

I am going with Manchester United to edge it.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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