Southampton vs. Manchester United; Three (3) things to expect from the game.

Both sides will be coming into the game on the back of their two previous meetings in the season; one in the Premier League at Old Trafford and the other in the EFL Cup Finals at the Wembley Stadium.

The host is guaranteed of a place in the League next season (no relegation worries) as three teams in as Hull City, Middlesbrough and David Moyes’s Sunderland have been relegated from the Premier League. United on their own have nothing to play for in the League as they cannot secure a top four finish with a win at St. Mary Stadium.

The visitors will hope to rely on their Europa League alternative as the game might be a mere formality for them in the League as Jose Mourinho said recently in a press conference that “the last two games in the Premier League are games they don’t want to play” as compared to the all important Europa League Finals with Dutch side, Ajax Amsterdam.

Despite the seemingly lack of vibes going into this fixture there are still three things to expect in the game.

Here are 3 three things to expect as Southampton welcomes the Red Devils at home in this fixture.

FRESH ABSENTEES FOR UNITED

The home side will definitely be welcoming United who have nothing to play for in the game expect but for pride. This will prompt the Charismatic United Manager Jose Mourinho to rest players as they look forward to the big thing (game) which is the Europa League Finals with Ajax.

With no major intentions left for United in the last few matches in the Premier League, this saw United lose 2-1 to host Tottenham at White Hart Lane as Mauricio Pochettino’s men signed out from their home ground with a positive result against the Red Devils. On the other hand tragedy struck with the death of Paul Pogba’s father few days ago.

This saw the record signing midfield player granted a compassionate leave to be with his family. This will certainly rule him out of the tie as he joins some few absentees who will be rested for the trip to the St. Mary’s Stadium.

REVENGE MISSION FOR THE HOST

One of the things to expect from this fixture is some level of animosity from the host who will seek for their own pound of flesh against the visiting Manchester United side.

With the vibes to win their last home game to at least give their home fans that have supported them all season what to cheer as they meet with United in the Premier League.

This will be boosted with the desire to avenge the Red Devils 3-2 defeat in the EFL Cup finals that was inspired by talismanic figure Zlatan Ibrahmovic at Wembley Stadium despite the Saints coming from behind twice in the game through the goal scoring touch of the in-form striker Manolo Gabbiadini on the occasion.

WHO WANT IT MORE

The game will be determined not only by the might or by the home advantage of the teams involved but about the team that want to win the game more especially as United might approach the game with a low key interest as regards to their Europa League ambitions.

The Saints looks like the more hungry side as they at home and will want to stake a claim against a depleted United side that have shifted attention to the Ajax game (Europa League finals) .

This what might give the Saints a chance against the visitors as Star players like Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan might be rested in the wake of their season all important clash with Ajax.

Despite the fact that the game might be won by the team that wants it more, there maybe a place for individual brilliance /moment of magic as both teams possess talismanic figures who can bring the game to their teams summit in the contest.