Man Utd vs Southampton: Man United’s game against the Saints is make or break

Updated: 10/12/2024

Manchester United enter into tonight's home match versus Southampton understanding that a win will raise them to 3rd location in the Premier League with simply 3 matches to go.

Man Utd vs Southampton 13/07/2020 Result

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It is an extraordinary run for the Red Devils, who prior to lockdown were 8 points behind 3rd location Leicester City, 3 points behind 4th location Chelsea and simply 2 points ahead of Sheffield United who had a game in hand.

The concern heading into tonight's game is how will the pressure impact Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his team? Will they hold their nerve and continue to play the free-flowing, assaulting football that has got them to this position? Or will they begin to get edgy?

Last season, United remained in a comparable position in the league and had a variety of opportunities to capture Chelsea and enter into 4th location, however they were simply unable to take the effort, drawing in the house to Burnley, for instance, in January, or losing to Wolves at Molyneux in April. In the end, an unpleasant house draw to Huddersfield on the 5th of May put paid to any opportunity of a grand ending to the race for Champions League locations.

The Red Devils can not pay for any slip ups this time and tonight's match is perhaps the most crucial mentally for them. With matches coming thick and quick and Solskjaer deciding not to turn, the team can not be anticipated to switch on the design each time, however a win by whatever suggests is definitely required. Anything else will send out the jitters going through the side and the fan base and make the next game– a challenging journey to Selhurst Park to deal with Crystal Palace– a lot more pressurized scenario.

The pressure might be raised or increased today if, as anticipated, the judgment on Manchester City's UEFA restriction appeal is revealed. If the restriction stands, 5th location will suffice to get approved for the Champions League, which will indicate United are currently in package seat, 3 points ahead of Wolves in 6th and 4 ahead of Sheffield United in seventh. The game will still be very important, however not rather as crucial.

Nevertheless, if the judgment is reversed or postponed, leading 4 will be the objective and Solskjaer will understand that he will most likely need to take optimum explain of the last 4 games to attain his goal.

Luckily, in charge can as soon as again rely on a nearly full-strength team today, with Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe staying the only absentees. The Saints will offer Jannick Vestergaard a late physical fitness test however are otherwise likewise in great shape aside from long-lasting absentees Moussa Djenepo, Sofiane Boufal and Yan Valery.

Tonight's referee will be Chris Kavanagh and start at Old Trafford is at 8pm BST.

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