Premier League: Manchester United v Southampton match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s fixture at Old Trafford

Wayne Rooney is set to feature for Manchester Unietd against Southampton (Getty Images)

At the start of the season, many Manchester United fans would have looked at this clash with Southampton as a comfortable three points. But just seven games into the new Premier League campaign, that view is sure to have changed.

David Moyes has found it hard adjusting to life in the United hot seat, with recent results backing this theory up. A dreadful 4-1 defeat to neighbours Manchester City was followed up a week later by a shock home defeat to West Brom. And with Southampton currently occupying the fourth Champions League spot, and unbeaten in five, it would not come as a shock if the Saints were to go to Old Trafford and at least pick up a point.

A win for Southampton would stretch the gap between themselves and Manchester United to seven points.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3:00pm

PAST MEETINGS…

Manchester United 2 (Rooney 2,) Southampton 1 (Jay Rodriguez) Premier League, January 2013

Southampton 2(Lambert, Schneiderlin) Manchester United 3 (Van Persie 3), Premier League September 2012

Southampton 1(Chaplow) Manchester United 2 (Owen, Hernandez), FA cup, January 2011

Southampton 0 Manchester United 3 (Welbeck, Nani, Gibson), FA Cup, January 2009

Southampton 1(O’Shea og) Manchester United 2 (Fletcher, Van Nistelrooy), Premier League, May 2005

STATS…

Manchester United have not lost successive Premier League home games since May 8, 2002.

If only second-halves counted, Southampton would be top of the Premier League on 16 points.

Adnan Januzaj is only the second Manchester United player to score a brace on his first Premier League start for the club, after Ruud van Nistelrooy.

ODDS…

Manchester United to win: 1.55

Southampton to win: 6

Draw: 3.9

TV: Highlights on BBC 1 at 10.25pm.