Premier League: Saints won’t fear Old Trafford trip

Following a 3-2 win on the road at Tottenham in midweek, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton will be full of confidence when they head to Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Saints are in positive form at present and next face a Manchester United side who are struggling to put in a full 90-minute display with the tactics promoted by interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Saints on the rise

With just one defeat in their last nine games in all competitions, Southampton have shown significant signs of improvement since mid-December.

Saints managed to back up a 1-1 draw with Premier League frontrunners Manchester City with that impressive victory on the road at Spurs on Wednesday night, in a result that took the south-coast outfit into the top half of the table.

Armando Broja continues to impress on his loan spell away from Chelsea, with the Albanian scoring his sixth league goal of the season against a Tottenham side that have been tough to beat on home soil of late.

Broja is 3.85 in our market to score anytime on Saturday, against a United team that were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against rock-bottom Burnley on Tuesday night.

Watching United in recent weeks, it’s clear they are trying to adapt to the new style under German tactician Rangnick but producing over the full match appears to be an issue.

Southampton earned a 1-1 draw against the Red Devils earlier this season, and at 2.46, Hasenhuttl’s side look good value in the double chance market to get at least a point from the trip to Old Trafford.

United playing a dangerous game

It was always going to be a risk to not appoint a permanent manager after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

United face a real battle to finish in the top four this season, and three wins in their last seven Premier League games have not helped the cause.

A lack of investment in January, with it still unknown who will replace Rangnick at the end of the season, means United feel like they are in limbo at present and are running the risk of missing out on Champions League football for next term..

The Red Devils, who are 32% in our market to finish in the top four this season, still have attacking threats all over the park and it would be no surprise to see the hosts get on the scoresheet on Saturday.

However, their defensive frailties will be a cause for concern for United fans and Southampton have the quality and confidence to exploit those weaknesses at the back.

United have kept one clean sheet in their last seven Premier League games, while Saints have one in their last 12 outings in the competition.

All signs are pointing to goals in this one and both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 2.12 could be the way to go in this early kick-off on Saturday.

Recommended Bets

Southampton double chance @ 2.46

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 2.12