JAKARTA - Manchester United will host Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night January 16 or Friday morning in the Premier League. Both teams are working to improve their poor form this season. Manchester United are trying to bounce back from the disappointing results in the league, while Southampton, who are at the bottom of the table, hopes to get out of the slump.

Manchester United had a challenging season under coach Ruben Amorim. The team nicknamed the Red Devils was only able to win one win in their last seven Premier League games. Currently, they are in 13th place in the standings with points far from expectations.

However, United's performance in the last two games provided little hope for Amorim. After successfully stealing a point from Liverpool in a 2-2 draw at Anfield, United showed incredible fighting power when they beat Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup on penalties. In that match, goalkeeper Altay Bayindir became a hero with his crucial save.

Coach Ruben Amorim praised his team's fighting spirit after the win against Arsenal and hoped this momentum could continue in the match against Southampton. "We showed great character and determination. This is the first step to rebuild the team's confidence," said Amorim.

On the other hand, Southampton is going through a much more difficult season. They are at the bottom of the standings with just six points from 20 games, making them the worst team in Premier League history to this point. With a difference of 10 points from the safe zone, hopes to stay in the Premier League are running low.

Southampton's new coach, Ivan Juric, faces a tough task to change the fate of his team. After three consecutive defeats in the Premier League, Jurac managed to bring Southampton to a convincing 3-0 win over Swansea City in the FA Cup. Although this victory gave them a bit of fresh air, a tough challenge awaits them at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have a slick record against Southampton in the Premier League. In the last 15 meetings, United have never lost, even though eight of those matches ended in a draw. At the last meeting at Old Trafford, both teams drew 0-0 in March 2023. United also had additional motivation to avoid a consecutive fourth defeat at home.

Southampton, on the other hand, have never won in their last 17 away games in the Premier League. However, they have sweet memories at Old Trafford, losing just three of their last 10 visits. The last meeting of the two teams took place in September 2024, where United won 3-0 at St. Mary's.

Manchester United

The Red Devils had to play without a number of key players. Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans are still sidelined due to injury. Diogo Dalot also could not appear because of the red card suspension he got against Arsenal.

Untuk mengisi posisi bek kiri,men Malacia kemungkinan akan kembali ke starting lineup, sementara Noussair Mazraoui atau Amad Diallo dapat mengisi posisi bek kanan. Di lini depan, Joshua Zirkzee mungkin akan menjadi pilihan utama mengganti Rasmus Hojlund yang sulit mencetak gol dalam beberapa pertandingan terakhir.

Southampton

Southampton is also facing an injury crisis, with Jack Stephens, Juan Larios, and Ross Stewart ruled out. However, Ivan Juric got good news with the return of Flynn Downes and Will Smallbone from injury. Both players are expected to provide stability in midfield.

Tyler Dibling, who scored twice in the FA Cup, will most likely start at the front with Kamaldeen Sulemana. At the goalkeeper's position, Aaron Ramsdale is expected to remain the first choice, even though Gavin Bazunu has returned from a long injury.

Manchester United will most likely rely on the 3-4-2-1 formation, focusing on possession and wing exploitation. Bruno Fernandes' presence in midfield will be key in creating chances, while young players like Kobbie Mainoo are expected to be able to provide energy in midfield.

On the other hand, Southampton are likely to play more defensively and rely on quick counter-attacks. The combination of young players like Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana could be a threat if they are given space on United's back line. However, their weakness in defense, which can be seen from the number of concedings this season, needs to be overcome if they want to achieve positive results.

Manchester United are clearly seeded for victory in this match, given Southampton's poor record in the Premier League this season. However, United's inconsistent performance, especially at home, is a gap that the visitors can take advantage of.

With the momentum of the win in the FA Cup, United are predicted to be able to overcome Southampton's resistance. The final score will most likely side with the home team, with a result of 2-0 or 3-1.

This match is also an opportunity for Ruben Amorim to show that his team still has competitiveness in the Premier League. Meanwhile, for Ivan Juric and Southampton, this match is a tough test that can determine their fate in the remainder of the season.

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Malacia; Diallo, Fernandes; Hojlund.

Southampton (3-4-3): Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Bree, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Walker-Peters; Dibling, Archer, Sulemana.


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