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Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford in Premier League tonight, with Ruben Amorim’s page in search of build on recent positive results.
For all the plaudits United received after their draw against Liverpool and their win over Arsenal in the FA Cup, they remain 15th in the table and they need to pick up wins quickly if they want to climb towards the upper half. Tonight’s match is the perfect opportunity to get off to a positive start as they face a Southampton side who are bottom of the table with just six points so far this season.
The The struggles of the saints continued even since the arrival of the new manager Ivan Jurić, with one draw and three defeats in the league since the arrival of the Croat in mid-December. They are also desperate for points and will see this United team as vulnerable enough to overcome.
Follow all the Premier League action from Old Trafford below:
‘Maguire’s efforts may have taken their toll’
“Ruben Amorim praised Harry Maguire for his whole-hearted efforts against Arsenal, but they may have taken their toll.
“Maguire drops out of the team four days later and Leny Yoro starts against Southampton in his place.
“With Diogo Dalot suspended, it was a question of who Amorim would use as a wing-back.
“Amad Diallo seems to have provided the answer, with his return to the team probably on the right wing.
“United have lost their last three home league games and Southampton haven’t won away from home in the division this season, so something has to give.”
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford16 January 2025 18:53
Man Utd v Southampton
A little more than an hour until the start. Squad news is out and Alejandro Garnacho starts for Man Utd.
Is it a sign Ruben Amorim wants the Argentine to stay at the club despite interest in the winger during the transfer window?
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:51
Southampton v Man Utd squad
Southampton XI: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters; Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Aribo, Dibling; Kamaldeen
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:49
Manchester United v Southampton line-up
Man Utd XI: Onana; Yoro, De Light, Martinez; Amad Diallo, Mainoo, Ugarte, Mazraoui; Garnacho, Hojlund, Fernandes
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:47
Man Utd must find consistency
Consistency in their performances is the aim of Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.
The manager knows that his team played well against Liverpool and Arsenal, but he hopes to see such games more often.
“I’m always worried because during these games we haven’t had consistency in performance or results, so I’m always worried. My job is to be worried,” Amorim said,
“But we have to face Southampton in the same way we faced Liverpool or Arsenal. That’s the goal. No more, no less. Understanding that these are different games and people expect us to win, and that changes things.
“When you have pressure to win, that’s the pressure we want and sometimes it’s harder to deal with that pressure because against Arsenal and Liverpool, nobody expected us to beat these teams.
“We have to be ready for that pressure, we need that pressure to improve as a team, and we have to face the game the right way.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:40
Garnacho still a learning system
Alejandro Garnacho is still learning to play in Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system, but the manager admits the Argentine is a real talent.
“It’s clear, he has talent,” Amorim said, “He has to learn to play a little bit in a different position. He has to play better inside.
“He’s improved a lot in the recovery position, when he doesn’t have the ball, but, doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place for transitions, like he was in the past, because I prefer to defend and then build. together with the whole team to make the last third.
“So he finds the best way to play in this system. He thrives during training.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:35
Jurić on Swansea’s win
Southampton’s last outing was a 3-0 win over Swansea in the FA Cup and the manager knows tonight’s match will be different.
“We did some things well [against Swansea]but we know that it will be a different game against Swansea than against Manchester United,” said Ivan Jurić.
“We are preparing well. The boys are a bit more confident after the Swansea game, we’ll see.”
Mike JonesJanuary 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m
Jurić in the match against Man Utd
Ivan Juric spoke about the prospect of facing Man Utd tonight and what he thinks of their indifferent form since Ruben Amorim took over.
Juric said: “Manchester United have changed their manager, they have changed their style of play. They play 3-4-3 like [Ruben] Amorim did it at Sporting [Lisbon].
“They are trying to find the right path. They played some good games, some bad games, it’s normal when you change the style of football.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:25
Ruben Amorim is confident Alejandro Garnacho can have a bright future at Man Utd
Reuben Amorim said it was “clear” Alejandro Garnacho could have a bright future at Manchester United despite reports linking him with a move away this month.
FA Cup match on Sunday at Arsenalwhich United went on to win on penalties, was the first time Garnacho had made Amorim’s starting XI since the 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest December 7.
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:20
Jurić hopes for the return of Downs
Southampton coach Iva Jurić hopes that Flynn Downes will be able to play against Manchester United tonight.
Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “Flynn Downes had his first training session yesterday.
“He’s ok. We’ll see if he can play from the start or later, but that’s fine.
“I think everybody is fit, everybody is ok.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:15