Manchester United v Southampton: Premier League – Live | Premier League

On January 17, 2025By Littum

Key events

Going into tonight’s games, the Premier League table looks like this. Not very good reading for Manchester United supporters; thoroughly painful display for Southampton fans. The other game this evening is Ipswich Town v Brighton & Hove Albion (7.30pm) which we will keep you updated on.

Manchester United make three changes to their starting XI following their FA Cup win at Arsenal. André Onana regains his place in goal at the expense of Emirates hero Altay Bayındır, while Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo step up, Harry Maguire drops to the bench and Diogo Dalot misses out after his red card last weekend.

Southampton made one change to the team that brushed aside Swansea City 3-0 in the FA Cup. Yukinari Sugawara comes in for Ryan Manning, who drops to the bench.

The teams

Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Yoro, Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Kukonki, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Antony, Zirkzee.

Southampton: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Aribo, Walker-Peters, Dibling, Sulemana.
Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Wood, Smallbone, Downes, Lallana, Armstrong, Archer, Onuachu.

Preamble

Yes, yes, all the humorists call it a relegation battle. But let’s be serious, never mind them. Not that Manchester United are doing well, exactly, down in the uncharted waters of 15th place. But a win tonight over doomed Saints would take them up to 12th and within swinging distance of the top half of the table. Thin gravy for a club of United’s stature and history, but that’s where they are right now, although a couple of street results against arch-rivals Liverpool and Arsenal have Ruben Amorim and his men looking up towards the light once again. Rock-bound Southampton, who have lost 12 of their last 15 Premier League games, winning just one, and were beaten 3-0 by United on their own turf back in September, will most likely settle for a dignified defeat. Then again, football being what it is, you never know and the Saints have given the Red Devils an unexpected bloody nose more than once before, as this retro edition of Joy of Six illustrates. Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 20:00 GMT. It’s on!