Southampton vs Manchester United

St. Mary’s Stadium sets the stage for a high-stakes Premier League showdown between Southampton and Manchester United.

Despite helping Southampton earn top-flight promotion in his first season in charge, manager Russell Martin’s job is at risk following a three-game losing Premier League start. September’s international break came to the 38-year-old’s rescue, providing additional time to rally his troops after an abysmal 3-1 defeat at Brentford. If it’s any consolation, Southampton broke their scoring duck in that fixture following back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. The Saints return to Premier League action against Manchester United, seeking their first home win in England’s elite football division after eight straight failed attempts (D2, L6). Worryingly for Martin, his men ominously conceded 19 goals during that eight-game sequence, casting further doubt on their desperate quest to end a woeful 15-match winless streak against Manchester United (D8, L7).

Indeed, you’d have to look back at August 2008 for Manchester United’s last defeat at St. Mary’s (W10, D5 since), suggesting this trip is what the doctor ordered for Erik ten Hag’s disjointed squad. After a late 1-0 home victory against Fulham in round one, the Red Devils have lost two consecutive league matches by an aggregate score of 5-1, including a morale-wrecking 3-0 demolition at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool last time out. As the pressure starts to mount on the Dutch manager, the record-time Premier League winners leave Old Trafford in search of only their second away league triumph in eight matches (W1, D2, L4), aware another misstep could lead to Ten Hag’s sacking. Inspiration stems from United’s two wins on their last three top-flight visits to St. Mary’s (D1).