Southampton vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Bruno Fernandes’s goal
Manchester United did just enough to get all three points against a dogged Southampton
Manchester United travel to Southampton for Saturday’s early Premier League kick off as they look to build on the back of their impressive 2-1 victory over Liverpool last time out. Erik ten Hag’s men displayed a level of energy and intensity that has been lacking at Old Trafford in recent times and avoided a third consecutive defeat after losses to Brighton and Brentford.
There is a now an optimism around the team and they will have to live up to their own standards if they are to beat a Southampton side that recorded their first win of the season against Leicester City last weekend.
After a 4-1 hammering from Tottenham and a 2-2 draw with Leeds, the Saints responded to a James Maddison goal to come from behind and claim a 2-1 victory away at the Foxes thanks to Che Adams’ brace. It was their second game in a row that they’ve claim points from losing positions and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping to get stuck into this shaky Manchester United side this afternoon.
Follow all the action from St Mary’s as Southampton host Manchester United in the Premier League:
Manchester United transfer target demands to leave Ajax after second bid rejected
Antony has publicly expressed his desire to leave Ajax after the Eredivise club rejected a €90m (£76m) bid from Manchester United.
The 22-year-old winger is United’s priority transfer target during the final week of the window but the Old Trafford club’s latest bid was rejected on Friday.
United had already seen a bid of €80m (£68m) rejected last week, with Ajax holding out for closer to their €100m asking price due to a lack of time to find a replacement.
Antony demands to leave Ajax after second Manchester United bid rejected
United saw €90m bid rejected on Friday, leading Ajax winger to go public with desire to leave
Man Utd boss explains team selection
Erik ten Hag spoke to BT Sport before kick off to explain why he decided to name an unchanged team for today’s game.
He says: “We have a squad that’s quite competitive, it’s always difficult decisions. We had a really good performance on Monday then we stick to it.
“It’s also to give Casemiro the time. He has not played 90 minutes, he has to adapt to England and to Manchester United and it’s to give him time to integrate into the team.”
Tough fixtures for the Saints
This is a big week for Southampton. They host Manchester United today before welcoming Chelsea on Tuesday evening.
In their favour is the fact that both games are at home but they’ll be tough contests and any points the Saints can pick up will be big bonuses for Raplh Hasenhuttl’s men.
Victory today will give them a whole heap of confidence leading into Tuesday’s match against the Blues.
Ten Hag on busy schedule
Erik ten Hag isn’t focused on Manchester United’s busy schedule and wants to take things game-by-game to get points on the board and build confidence in the team.
“First of all you have to get into the season and it’s always tough to get into the season.” said the Manchester United boss, “It’s about winning your fights and winning your points and then the confidence will come.
“From game to game we have to learn and we have to develop the team processes and the way we play.”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag tells Harry Maguire that captaincy is no guarantee of starting
Erik ten Hag has told Harry Maguire that his status as Manchester United captain offers no guarantee of starting every week, while hailing Raphael Varane’s “immense” stature as a player.
Varane impressed at the heart of United’s defence after replacing Maguire in the starting line-up for Monday’s win over historic rivals Liverpool, which earned United’s first points of the new Premier League season and Ten Hag’s first win in the job.
Maguire ended the night as an unused substitute and potentially faces a challenge to win back his place as one half of Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-back pairing, with new signing Lisandro Martinez also winning plaudits for his performance alongside Varane.
Erik ten Hag tells Harry Maguire that captaincy is no guarantee of starting
Ten Hag praises ‘immense’ stature and pedigree of Maguire’s team-mate Raphael Varane
United struggling on the road
Manchester United could win back-to-back fixtures in the Premier League for the first time since February but the Red Devils’ current run of seven straight league defeats away from home is their worst since losing 10 in a row in 1936.
Can Erik ten Hag’s men make it two wins in a row?
Southampton vs Man Utd team changes
Southampton make one change from the game against Leicester with Che Adams coming in to replace Sékou Mara. Adams starts on thanks to his two goals against The Foxes.
Manchester United are unchanged with Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire and new signing Casemiro all starting on the bench.
Southampton vs Man Utd line-ups
Southampton XI: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Aribo, Elyounoussi, Armstrong, Adams
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Eriksen, McTominay, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford
Will Sancho score again?
Jadon Sancho opened the scoring for Manchester United on Monday against Liverpool and netted against the Saints at Old Trafford last year. Will he get on the scoresheet again today?
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