Preferred XI
Here’s the team I’d like to see, followed by the side I expect Rafa to go with:
I'll keep this pretty short and sweet as it seems to me that our team doesn't need to change given how good we were for most of our last away game at Old Trafford.
There'll be plenty calls for Rondon to start (and for Perez to be dropped), but as much as I want to see him start, I doubt the big Venezuelan will be anything other than a late impact sub this weekend.
The key to our success going forward at Man Utd was the performances from Shelvey, Kenedy, Perez and Muto - however the latter two were poor against Brighton, so let's hope they're back at it. Shelvey and Kenedy can't do it all on their own.
(4-4-1-1) – Dubravka – Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett – Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy – Perez - Muto.
The Opposition
Here’s a few ‘ones to watch’ in the Southampton side:
Danny Ings (ST): He's looked their most dangerous player whenever I've seen them and by far their biggest goal threat. He's unlucky not to have more than three goals in the league so far this season.
Mario Lemina (CM): They paid a lot of money to sign him from Juventus last year and you can see why. He looks a very good all round midfielder and someone I can see getting a better move for himself over the next year or so.
Ryan Bertrand (LB): He's very attacking and will look to get in between and beyond Yedlin and Ritchie down our right. The applies to Cedric Soares (their right-back).
Predicted Southampton XI – (4-4-1-2) McCarthy - Cedric, Vestegaard, Hoedt, Bertrand - Elyounoussi, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Redmond - Austin, Ings.
Team news
Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Salomon Rondon and Ciaran Clark are both fit and available, however Paul Dummett‘should be OK’ to play after missing our last two. Aside from Lejeune, we seem to have no injuries.
Mario Lemina was subbed off last weekend with a knee injury but Hughes is now expecting him to be fit - with them having a fully fit squad if he does make it.
Match Prediction
I say this more in hope than expectation, but I think this just get that all important first win here.
I can see us going for it from the first minute and aiming to replicate the sort of performance that put us 0-2 up at Old Trafford early on. Southampton's crowd will be edgy if they don't start well, so getting the first goal is massive - although allowing them to score first could see our fragile confidence levels sink to new lows.
The first goal will be key - and I can't see more than a draw if they get it - but I fancy us to come out of the blocks quickly and hold on for a vital 1-2 win.
