Manchester United vs Southampton Prediction – Saints to match Devils’

24/02/2017 | Categories: Football betting | Published by: Andy Nelson

Manchester United vs Southampton Prediction for the English League Cup

English Football League Cup Preview: Manchester United vs Southampton Prediction – Wembley Stadium – 26th February, 2017.

Manchester United 1-1 Southampton @ 11/2

Manchester United 2-2 Southampton @ 18/1

Manchester United vs Southampton Prediction and Match preview

Few would wonder if it's the same Claude Puel's Southampton that's struggling to remain in the top half of the Premier League table.

They got knocked out of the UEFA Europa League and shown the door in the FA Cup. This after a 0-5 thrashing from Arsenal.

The Saints are 17/4 to win against the Gunners in 90 minutes come Sunday.

The Saints astonishingly have a different story to tell when it comes to the EFL Cup. In their progression to the finals of the Cup, Southampton have vanquished the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool. It doesn't stop there as they didn't concede a single goal in doing so.

In preparing for Sunday's final showdown with Manchester United, the Saints have had the advantage of a 15-day gap. They last played a Premier League match way back on February 11th.

For Southampton, Manolo Gabbiadini, the 25-year old import from Napoli via the January transfer window will be a key player.

Gabbiadini has scored in each of his only two appearances for his new club.

The Saints back line comprising of Cedric Soares, Jack Stephens, Maya Yoshida and Ryan Bertrand have proved to impenetrable in the EFL Cup tourney. They have maintained a clean sheet for an incredible 450 minutes.

Southampton Team News

The Saints will still be without Charlie Austin who was their top scorer till December, the time since he has been absent for the club thanks to a dislocated shoulder.

Another big blow to the side will be the absence of the superb playmaker, Virgil van Dijk.

He is out with an ankle injury for perhaps a couple of months. Left back-cum-winger Matt Targett and the 23-year old attacking midfielder, Sofiane Boufal, also look doubtful.

In the absence of Austin and Boufal, the onus of attacking will fall on the shoulders of Gabbiadini, Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic.

Manchester United Team News

There is little doubt that Jose Mourinho would love to get his hands on his first trophy since his advent to Old Trafford this season.

Post the 0-4 humiliation at the hands of Chelsea in October, the Red Devils have indeed looked impressive.

Of the 20 plus matches they have played in all forms of competition since then they have lost in just once.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made it a habit of scoring almost every time.

Expect him to do so at Old Trafford on Sunday no matter how tight Southampton's defence could be.

One could see more of Marcus Rashford upfront and the livewire Juan Mata is once again among goals.

The return to form of the £26 million Borussia Dortmund import Henrikh Mkhitaryan could get punctured.

The brilliant midfielder had to limp off in a recent Europa League clash against Saint Etienne. Another casualty in that encounter, Michael Carrick, also looks doubtful for the Sunday's clash.

English Football League Cup History

The Red Devils will be hoping to equal Liverpool's record of five EFL Cup titles in what would be their ninth final appearance in the Cup.

For Southampton this will be their second appearance in the final since 1979. That was when they lost to Nottingham Forest.

The Saints will face Manchester United at Wembley for the first time, the huge London ground being not a very familiar territory for them.

The odds are definitely in favour of Jose Mourinho's men to lift the Cup. However Southampton could be much prepared than usual for the 26 February clash.

They could well prove to be tough customers. The last seven encounters between these two has resulted in three wins for United, two for the Saints and two draws.