Man U vs Southampton
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick off: 6:30PM
Jose Mourinho will be without several key players for this evening’s clash with Southampton at Old Trafford.
After dropping more points at home to Burnley on Boxing Day, United find themselves 15 points behind rivals Manchester City – the biggest points gap between first and second place after 20 games in English top-flight history.
Two wins in their last five games has also opened the door for the chasing pack, with Chelsea now just a point behind in third.
Jose Mourinho said he is unable to rest a “tired” Romelu Lukaku because of his lack of attacking options.
The temptation to rest out-of-form Romelu Lukaku has not crossed Mourinho’s mind, though.
Mourinho said his striker, who has played every single minute of United’s 20 Premier League games, is “tired” having scored just four times in 19 games, yet he feels he cannot give him a rest.
“The guy (Lukaku) is fantastic for me and for the team,” Mourinho said. “He gives absolutely everything and I have no criticism. Can I give him a rest? No, I can’t.”
Southampton have lost four of their last seven Premier League matches, failing to produce a win since late November, and were brushed aside by Tottenham with ease on Boxing Day.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino said it was the right time to let Virgil van Dijk leave and wants the board to reinvest in the squad
“I was analysing that game [Tottenham] but I think now our target is to bounce back in the Southampton way, to play with more character and be more clinical in ways,” manager Mauricio Pellegrino said.
The Red Devils have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Premier League games against Southampton, after a run of nine games without one.
Southampton has won two of their last three league visits to Old Trafford, after a run of 19 games without a win there (D3 L16).
Indeed, their last two away wins against Man Utd came over a period of 35 games.
United won the reverse fixture thanks to a Romelu Lukaku goal – they’ve not beaten Southampton home and away in the same season since 2012-13.
Man U possible XI: De Gea, Darmian, Jones, Rojo, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Rashford, Lukaku.
Southampton Possible XI: Forster, Stephens, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Romeu, Tadic, Hoejbjerg, Lemina, Boufal, Gabbiadini.
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