Southampton host Manchester United at St. Mary’s Stadium today in a game that is sure to be influential to each teams season. Southampton and Manchester United look to push further up the table with a win today.
A win for Southampton could put them third so long as the results around them go in their favour as well. They look to continue their hot start to the season.
Manchester United have had a mixed season full of ups and downs. Three points today could see them reach seventh in the table as they look to push on the top four of the table again.
Both teams are in fairly good form. Both teams have three wins from the last five games. Southampton can get a fourth straight home Premier League win. Manchester United similarly can get their eighth successive away win in the Premier League so it is bound to be an interesting game. Both sides need to win and will come out fighting I am sure.
Starting Lineups
Before kick off the players take a minute applause in order to remember and respect Diego Maradona who past away this week at the age of 60. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever live.
Embed from Getty ImagesKick Off – Southampton get the game underway
3″ Manchester United test the Southampton defence for the first time. A brilliant cross from Alex Telles but nobody gets onto the end of it.
6″ Big chance for Manchester United and it should have ended in the back of the net. Bruno Fernandes finds Mason Greenwood who got the better of Jannick Vestergaard. He got round the keeper but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. Southampton get away with one there.
8″ VAR check after Marcus Rashford went down in the box. Rashford did appear to be clipped before he went down. Clearly not enough in it to give a penalty over.
Manchester United have already received 4 penalties this season. Last season earning 18 got them a new Premier League record. Could we see any penalties in this one?
12″ Crunching challenge from Oriol Romeu which leave Fernandes hurt. He will probably come back on but if there is an injury it could be costly for Manchester United.
Fernandes has had a large impact on Manchester United since signing last January. 23 appearances in the Premier League scoring 14 and assisting 10.
15″ Southampton really sitting back in this one and are yet to challenge the Manchester United defence
Embed from Getty Images16″ Manchester United are playing very well here and creating lots of chances. Rashford found Fernandes who had a go from outside the box. A slight deflection takes it wide and the ball just clips the post.
The move ends and James Ward-Prowse sees yellow after a foul in the build up on Donny Van de Beek.
21″ Southampton starting to get the ball in to the box a bit more now but not created any real dangerous chances.
22″ Ward-Prowse puts a good freekick in and it is cleared away for a corner. The first decent chance they have had so far this game. They do seem to be putting more pressure on.
23″ GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Manchester United. The resulting corner from Ward-Prowse comes in close to the keeper. A brilliant ball in and Jan Bednarek gets on the end of it.
Embed from Getty ImagesSouthampton one up here and in every home game this season they have scored two or more so could we see more goals for them?
Manchester United have a good record away from home and a good record in coming back from behind against Southampton. I wouldn’t put it past them to do so.
27″ A great effort again from Southampton who are now taking charge of the game. Walker-Peters has a go but the ball is blocked onto the post. Another Southampton corner.
28″ Corner after corner for Southampton and all of which going into dangerous positions. Maybe lucky to have conceded only one
30″ Huge mistake from Alex McCarthy leads to a big chance for Manchester United. Greenwood shot saved well but the rebound from Fernandes produces an outstanding double save. Manchester United should be back into this one.
32″ Southampton win a freekick in a dangerous position. Ward-Prowse steps up and having scored 8 goals from freekicks this is a big chance.
33″ GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Manchester United. Ward-Prowse dangerous from freekicks and he gets another one. David De Gea gets a hand to it but not enough to keep the ball out.
Embed from Getty Images35″ Southampton creating so many chances now. Moussa Djenepo with a good shot that is saved well by De Gea. The possible rebound chance for Armstrong is put wide
36″ De Gea appears hurt here. His left knee hit the post as he tried to stop the Ward-Prowse freekick. Could be a worry for Manchester United.
42″ This half has changed completely after the first goal. Manchester United were pushing and creating lots of chances but now Southampton have taken charge.
HALF TIME – Southampton 2-0 Manchester United
Ralph Hasenhuttl will be delighted with the first half. 2-0 up at half time and finishing the half on top. Manchester United dominated the first 20 minutes creating lots of chances but Southampton score and absolutely dominate.
Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will need a big second half if they are to get anything out of this one and continue their fantastic away record.
Southampton haven’t beaten Manchester United at St Mary’s since 2003 though it may end today if Southampton continue to perform.
Manchester United get the second half kicked off
47″ First chance of the half goes to Southampton as Theo Walcott has a go. A good save for Dean Henderson
49″ Another effort from Walcott easily saved by Henderson again. Catching practice really for him this time.
52″ Rashford found his way through. He had a great chance and yet again McCarthy produces a fantastic save. Edison Cavani frustrated as he was on for a pass but Rashford chose the shot instead.
56″ Another big chance for Manchester United but they can’t seem to score. Fernandes floats the ball in and Van de Beek looks for a pass rather than a shot. Cavani’s shot goes over thanks to a deflection
59″ GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Manchester United. A lovely ball in from Cavani found Fernandes who is in a lot of space. Turned and finished well. Can they get back into this one?
Embed from Getty Images62″ A good chance for Southampton to get in. Djenepo took a shot off balance that goes well wide of the mark. Nothing that challenges Henderson in net.
69″ Great chance for Manchester United again. Aaron Wan-Bissaka whips in a great ball in to Cavani who’s header is just wide
75″ GOAL! Southampton 2-2 Manchester United. Corner whipped in by Alex Telles punched out to Fernandes who had a go. The ball ends up on the head of Cavani who puts the ball in the back of the net.
Embed from Getty Images78″ Chance from Southampton. Che Adams gets a shot away that goes just wide of the mark.
85″ Great chance for Manchester United to get the winner. Fred wins the ball back. Fernandes finds Rashford who could have had a go instead decides to try and find Fred who just misses the ball. There could still be a goal to come in this one
Five minutes to go and it is a tense game to this point. Both teams clearly want a goal to get all three points and are creating chances. It is going to be a great last 5 minutes.
90+1″ Bruno Fernandes has a go from a long way out. McCarthy seems to have it covered but a close effort goes over.
90+3″ GOAL! Southampton 2-3 Manchester United. Rashford whips a fantastic ball in and yet again Cavani gets on the end of it. This could be the winner!
Embed from Getty Images90+4″ Could it be more? Rashford found Fernandes who has a go and the ball goes high and wide. Cavani frustrated as he was in a good position for a possible hattrick.
FULL TIME! Southampton 2-3 Manchester United
What a game! Southampton go 2-0 up at half time and Manchester United appear unmotivated despite creating plenty of chances. Second half was close but the substitution of Edison Cavani definetly changed the game. He scored two including a late winner to see Manchester United take the points.
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