Southampton Vs Manchester United
Sunday 22 August, 2021 – 14:00 (BST)
English Premier League
Pick: Manchester United Win & Both Teams To Score
Odds: 9/4
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 20 August 2021)
Preview: After succumbing to defeat at Goodison Park on their first outing of 2021-22, can Southampton get up and running in the Premier League when they welcome perennial nemesis Manchester United to St Mary’s?
English Premier League Betting at Betfair
Southampton – Armstrong to build on scoring debut?
For the third season in succession, Southampton risk losing their first two league games. This after opening their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a 3-1 defeat away at Everton in which new signing Adam Armstrong opened his account since completing a big money move from Blackburn Rovers with a fine debut goal. Saints fans will hope it was the first of many.
If Armstrong, a direct replacement for Danny Ings who has been the club’s leading marksman the past two seasons, is to find the target for the second outing in a row, it is unlikely to be accompanied by his first win in Southampton colours. That is because Saints retain a wretched record in this fixture, winning none of the previous ten at St Mary’s.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men did lead in this same fixture last season, however, as they have done on six occasions across this current ten-match barren spell at home to the 19-time Premier League champions. Moreover, they’ve not managed to collect three points from their opening home game in any of their past nine seasons at this level, losing 5-2 to Tottenham in 2020-21.
Manchester United – Fernandes Saints’ chief tormenter?
With a win or a draw on Sunday, Manchester United will equal the longest run of consecutive away league games without incurring defeat set in 2004 by Arsenal. The Red Devils haven’t lost away from home in the Premier League in 26 such matches (W17 D9), since a 2-0 scoreline at Anfield in January 2020, and will be confident of extending this run after last week’s stunning exploits.
A 5-1 victory over bitter rivals Leeds United earned Man Utd their joint-biggest opening day win in Premier League history and was a huge signal of their intent in the context of this season’s title conversation. Bruno Fernandes notched his first hat-trick for the club while Paul Pogba banked four assists. All in front of a raucous 72,000-strong crowd inside Old Trafford.
Up next for Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his team is St Mary’s, a venue which has served them well in recent times. United also hold found memories of facing Saints, after racking up a 9-0 scoreline when these sides last met at Old Trafford in February. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes has either scored or assisted (2 goals, 3 assists) in all three of his appearances against Southampton.
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Southampton Vs Manchester United Betting Advice
This is a fixture which usually serves up its fair share of goals. Five of the past six league meetings have seen these teams combine for a minimum of four goals, while the only recent contest not to feature both teams scoring was the 9-0 whitewash Man Utd inflicted at Old Trafford in February. Each of the last three at St Mary’s saw both teams contribute, for an average of 3.66 per game.
Southampton Vs Manchester United – Key Facts:
- The last time Southampton registered a Premier League home win over Manchester United was also in August, way back in 2003 (D4 L6 thereafter).
- Five of the last six league meetings have seen at least four goals, while each of the past three at St Mary’s featured both teams among the scoring action.
- Bruno Fernandes has either scored (twice) or assisted (three times) in each of his three appearances against Southampton for Man Utd.
So, with the visitors Manchester United boasting such a formidable record, not only in the fixture but here at this ground, it makes sense to combine a high-scoring contest with a United victory. All but one of United’s past seven away wins against the Saints were in spite of them conceding on at least one occasion, including last season’s thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 triumph.
Best Betting Odds – Southampton Vs Manchester United
Southampton – 19/4 (BetVictor)
Draw – 16/5 (WilliamHill)
Manchester United – 3/5 (BetFred)
