BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has made his verdict clear on who will come out on top between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Manchester United have seen a turnaround in form under Ruben Amorim since the start of 2025, following on from four consecutive defeats at the end of 2024.
The Red Devils produced a stunning display against Premier League rivals Liverpool and walked away with a point from their 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier this month.
United kicked off their FA Cup title defence on the weekend and travelled to the Emirates for their third-round tie against Arsenal.
Ruben Amorim’s men were reduced to 10 men in regular playing time after Diogo Dalot’s sending off, but United went on to beat the Gunners on penalties.
United’s win in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon was the Red Devils’ first victory since the 2-1 scoreline against Manchester City at the Etihad last December.
Sutton on Man Utd’s recent results
Manchester United languish in 13th place in the Premier League table ahead of Southampton’s arrival at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
Ruben Amorim’s side are seven points ahead of 18th-place Ipswich Town and 13 points adrift from fourth-place Chelsea after 20 league matches played.
The United manager’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification are more likely through the Europa League campaign than a bounce back in the league.
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton warned that United have a “very different test” ahead of them in their next three fixtures under Amorim.
“I have a lot of admiration for Manchester United’s performance in their FA Cup win against Arsenal, especially to grind it out with 10 men for an hour after Diogo Dalot was sent off,” he said.
“But these next three games, at home against Southampton, Brighton and then Rangers, are a very different test for them compared to their trips to the Emirates Stadium and Anfield in the past week.
“I don’t want to devalue what United did against Arsenal or Liverpool but they were games where the expectation was not on them to get results.
“We know United are good on the counter-attack away from home, but against Saints at Old Trafford, the onus is on them to take the game to the opposition.
“That is exactly where they have been struggling recently and, like I said on 606 on Sunday night, it would be just like Manchester United to be flat, find things difficult, and drop more points.”
Sutton makes Man Utd vs Southampton prediction
Southampton are rock bottom of the Premier League table and the Saints have only managed one league win from 20 matches in the 2024-25 campaign.
The Saints, who are on six points, are 10 points adrift from 17th-place Wolves and Southampton have lost four of their last five league matches.
However, Ivan Juric’s men returned to winning ways in the FA Cup on Sunday with their 3-0 victory over championship side Swansea City at the St Mary’s.
Sutton has backed United to beat Premier League strugglers Southampton 2-0, but he has warned that he doesn’t think the result will be a “completely routine one.”
“Southampton under Ivan Jurica are very different to the way they played under previous boss Russell Martin because most of the time they just lump it forward now, and they are far more direct,” he continued.
“Saints may come into this game with a bit of confidence after beating Championship side Swansea in the FA Cup, ending a run of 12 games without a victory that went back to the start of November.
“I still think United will find a way to win, but I am not so sure it will be a completely routine one.
“I loved the way they defended against Arsenal and I thought it was quite pointed from Ruben Amorim when he came out afterwards and talked about that desire aspect.
“He was speaking about traits which you would hope were pretty basic traits for any team to have – that ability to fight and scrap for a result.
“United have shown they can do that part, now they have to show their quality too.”
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