Another postponed match-up in the English Premier League will take place during this mid week as Southampton FC hosts the Red Devils at St. Mary’s Stadium. This clash is not especially important to either team having in fact that Manchester United doesn’t have any chances of finishing at one of the Champions League spots and Southampton doesn’t have any chance of ending the season at one of the Europa League spots. Nevertheless, it is very important to us because it’s just the right kind of match-up that we can make some profit off. Analysis is ready below so let’s take a closer look.
SOUTHAMPTON FC vs. MANCHESTER UNITED
3-Way: 1: Southampton FC +175; X: +236 Draw; Manchester United +195
Spread 0: Southampton FC -109; Manchester United +104
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -118
SOUTHAMPTON FC
The Southampton FC had a chance of winning a trophy this season when they played in the Finals of the EFL Cup (Second Cup in England) but they were defeated by their next league opponent Manchester United with 3:2. Now the Saints will have a chance for a payback win although a relatively pointless league victory can hardly remedy the pain of losing a Cup final game.
Nevertheless, the team has a chance to finish the season ranked eighth in the English Premier league table, one spot above their current position and that definitely should present some motive for the players. They collected 45 points in 36 games and they have two more match-ups to play.
When it comes to the team’s recent form, they are 3-2-3 in the last eight games and they are 1-1-2 in the last four match-ups on the home soil. Overall record at St. Mary’s this season is 6-5-6 with 17-20 goal difference (41-47 overall) and they rank 17th in the home league table with 23 of 51 possible points earned. They are coming off from a 2:1 road win against relegated Middlebrough team but they also didn’t manage to score a goal in last three matches in front of their home crowd.
Southampton scores 1.00 and concedes 1.18 goals per match at home (1.14-1.31 overall) and 41% of their home games had over 2.5 goals in total. 76% of their home matches had under 3.5 goals while 94% of those games had under 4.5 goals in total and only two of 17 matchups had over 2.5 goals at the halftime. In 22% of their total matchups they managed to score at least one goal in both halves and in 28% of those matches they managed to concede at least one goal in both halves.
Both teams scored in 44% of their total matches and most common results at home were 1:0 win and 0:0 draw (both occurred three times) while most common score at the halftime was 0:0 (occurred nine times).
Midfielder Nathan Redmond leads the team in scoring with seven goals while strikers Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez have six and five in their accounts. Dusan Tadic is the best assister with five assists while passing segment belongs to Oriol Romeu and Steven Davis with 1569 and 1359 total passes. Goalie Fraser Forster (36 appearances) collected 75 saves along with 13 games with clean sheets.
Alex McCarthy (Hamstring) and Virgil van Dijk (Foot) are both listed as major doubts for Wednesday.
MANCHESTER UNITED
In his first year as the Manchester United’s manager Jose Mourinho won two trophies (Community Shield and EFL Cup) and he will have the chance to take one more as the team will play in the Europa League final game in Stockholm at May 24th against the Dutch side Ajax.
Potentially three trophies in the first season sounds like a dream start but when we see the team’s position in the English Premier league table, this opinion quickly deteriorates. League title was probably too big of an expectation but one of the top four spots that lead to the Champions League next season (the competition which is definitely not the same without the Red Devils participation) should’ve been an easy move.
Nevertheless, team currently ranks sixth with 65 points in 36 games, seven points less than the fourth ranked Manchester City and they don’t have any chance of securing the CL games at Old Trafford next season through the league competition. Their only chance to accomplish that is by becoming the Europa Legue winner and I’m sure that entire team and every fan that is red in Manchester look to that game as the matter of life and death. This also means that Mourinho will most probably keep his best players rested for Stockholm and give some playing time to younger players in two remaining match-ups of the English Premier league.
When it comes to the team’s recent form in the English Premier League, they are coming off from two consecutive road losses against Arsenal, 2:0 and against Tottenham 2:1 that snatched 25-games undefeated streak that lasted since October last year. The Red Devils are 3-3-2 in the last eight games and they are 1-1-2 in the last four road match-ups. Overall record on the road is 10-4-4 with 28-17 goal difference (52-29 overall) and they rank forth in the road league table with 34 of 54 possible points earned.
United scores 1.56 and concedes 0.94 goals per match as visitors (1.44-0.81 overall) and 50% of their away matches had over 2.5 goals in total. 28% of their road games had over 3.5 goals while no game away game this season had over 4.5 goals in total. Team manages to score in both halves in every third road matchup while they manage to concede in both halves in 17% of those games. Both teams scored in 53% of their total matches while most common result on the road was 3:1 win and 2:0 win (both occurred three times). Most common score on the road at halftime was 1:0 lead (occurred six times).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic topped the team in scoring this season with 17 goals in the English Premier league while Juan Mata followed with six. Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera lead the team in assists with six each while Herrera also collected team-high 1844 total passes. Goalies David de Gea (35 appearances) and Sergio Romero (one appearance) collected 78 saves and they also have 15 games with clean sheets combined.
James Wilson (ACL Knee), Marcos Rojo (ACL Knee) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ACL Knee) are all out for the season while Timothy Fosu-Mensah (dislocated shoulder), Luke Shaw (Foot) and Ashley Young (Hamstring) will also be unavailable for Wednesday’s game. Paul Pogba will be absent because of the family matters and he is not expected to play.
Southampton FC vs. Manchester United Match Prediction
Having in mind the fact that this game’s outcome doesn’t play a role for any of the two teams, it is possible that we will see mixed lineups and the players that don’t usually play, get the chance here, especially on the Manchester United side.
Although it might be a risk on the Red Devils side, Mourinho will most likely rest some of his starters, while on the other side, the Saints will look for some revenge and will be highly motivated. Therefore, my bet is on the hosts to win the full prey.
In addition I will take the over 2.5 goals which is something that occurs often in games with no specific value and no significant implications on either side.
My pick: Southampton FC (+175)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals in total (+114)
