Manchester United vs Southampton predicted score, key stats and suggested bets

Premier League, Sunday, March 12, Kick-off 2pm, not televised in the UK

Manchester United 3-1 Southampton

Manchester United to win and both teams to score

Correct score - Man United 3-1 Southampton

Over 2.5 goals

Marcus Rashford to score and Man United to win

Manchester United are unbeaten in 20 home games - winning 18 of them

Southampton haven't beaten Man United in 14 attempts

Southampton's last win over Man United came in 2016

The last four games between these clubs at Old Trafford have produced 20 goals

Southampton have picked up more points away than at home (12 vs 9) this season

PL: Southampton 0-1 Man United, August 2022

PL: Man United 1-1 Southampton, February 2022

PL: Southampton 1-1 Man United, August 2021

PL: Man United 9-0 Southampton, February 2021

PL: Southampton 2-3 Man United, November 2020

Manchester United will be without long-term absentees Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen as they recover from knee and ankle injuries.

Anthony Martial will also miss out with a groin/hip injury, while Marcel Sabitzer remains a doubt.

Southampton, on the other hand, could have Carlos Alcaraz back in the fold in time for the trip to Old Trafford.

Juan Larios and Valentino Livramento are currently being assessed, though they're not expected to feature.

Manchester United were able to put their Liverpool thrashing behind them as they recovered in style in the Europa League on Thursday.

An emphatic 4-1 win over Real Betis in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash continued United's impressive unbeaten run at home.

The Red Devils haven't lost at home since September and have won 18 of their last 20 games at Old Trafford.

Southampton, meanwhile, have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.

Saints seemed bound for relegation under the stewardship of Nathan Jones, however victories over Chelsea and Leicester since his sacking have galvanised a feeling of hope around St Mary's.

Ruben Selles and his men will be major underdogs this Sunday, though they will be encouraged by the fact most of their points this season have come on the road.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said: "We have to take the lessons. We want to be a big team, we want to bring trophies, so then you have to act different and I think, after Sunday, we got a big lesson, we take that, but now we have to move on and we have to look forward.

"So that is the way we treated it, and now all the energy, all the focus, has to be on the next game."

Southampton manager Selles spoke about the importance of senior players in his squad ahead of the game.

He told the Daily Echo: "Everybody wants to give a solution. If it's not Theo Walcott, it's Stuart Armstrong, Willy Caballero or Ward-Prowse. And of course they need to give advice, of course they see things that sometimes you don't see. You need to hear them because if you hear them, you are closer to seeing the solutions.

"The dressing room needs to be alive, so it's not only Theo but it's all of them - they have all stepped up and they all want to move things forward. In the leadership that I practise, everybody has a space and in the good moments, we are together."

Manchester United's slim title hopes were completely dashed by Liverpool following last weekend's 7-0 thumping at Anfield.

While ten Hag can forget about a cup-league double, his men will be determined to seal a top-four finish.

The Red Devils enter the weekend with a seven-point cushion over fifth-placed Liverpool, though a slip-up against Southampton could see that gap narrow.

Realistically speaking, the chances of a slip-up are slim. Southampton have picked up two wins from their last three games, though a rejuvenated United side should have few problems powering past the relegation contenders.

Southampton currently boast the fourth worst defence and the third worst attack in the league. What's more, they haven't managed to beat Man United in 14 attempts.

Bearing that in mind, expect United to back up their impressive win over Real Betis and reaffirm their spot in the top four.

Marcus Rashford, who has scored 14 Premier League goals this season, will be looking to continue his fine season.

The England man boasts six goal contributions in 12 career games against Southampton.

Rashford to get on the scoresheet and Manchester United to win is our tip for Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.