Manchester United are hosted by this season’s surprise package, Southampton, on Monday night in what should be an exhilarating fixture. The Reds will go third in the table with a win, which makes the occasion even more important for Louis van Gaal’s squad. Here are 5 things to look out for during the game:
1.Tadic and Pelle
The two attackers were drafted in by Ronald Koeman from the Eredivisie in the summer, and have impressed ever since. The Italian striker has scored 6 league goals since his move to England and Tadic himself has picked up 6 assists in the league, alongside a single goal. These two can pose a deadly threat to any team on their day, and it will be something the United defence and David de Gea will have to look out for.
2. James Wilson
The 19-year-old started against Stoke and made the crowd rise off their feet in excitement when he used his raw pace to glide past the opposing defenders on several occasions. The Englishman could feature on Monday night as he is available for selection, and hopefully for the travelling fans he can finish off one of his blistering runs with a goal. An out-of-form Robin van Persie could be replaced by the youngster, especially if Radamel Falcao is granted a start.
3. Possession based tactics
Both teams will aim to dominate the possession of the ball on Monday night, especially the away side as it has seemed to work for them recently. An inspired performance against Hull saw them contain 77% of the ball, and the Reds will aim to repeat this successful strategy again on Monday. As Southampton have the home advantage, this is easier said than done. United will be under huge pressure to perform and record their 5th consecutive win, so whether they can keep their composure is an entirely different matter altogether.
4. Two ‘keepers at the top of their game
Both David de Gea and Fraser Forster have been exceptional for their clubs in the past few games or so. Forster was near-perfect against Arsenal, as a late Alexis Sanchez goal took away what would’ve been a hard earned clean sheet. De Gea saved United twice in the dying minutes against Stoke and has produced incredible performances over the course of the season, especially against Everton. Both goalkeepers will aim for a sacred clean sheet, and they might get their wish if they continue to perform at the very top of their game.
5. United striking fear into their opponents
Despite the absence of Angel di Maria, United still pose a colossal threat in the attacking areas of the pitch. With the likes of Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie on the pitch, any defender is left quaking in their boots. If Forster doesn’t replicate the form he demonstrated against Arsenal, then it’s hard not to see a United side with confidence scoring two or three goals on Monday.
