Frank Lorenzo
Manchester United (-125) vs. Southampton (+350) (+275)
This weekend’s Premier League action finds Manchester United hosting Southampton at Old Trafford on Sunday (11:00 a.m. Eastern) with third place in the table at stake.
In the moneyline, the Red Devils are favored to win, sitting at -125. Southampton is +350 and the draw +275.
United is currently one point up on the Saints in the table with 37 points to Southampton’s 36. With Tottenham and Arsenal on 34 and 33 points, respectively, both teams will be eager to take something away from Sunday’s game and ensure continued residence in the top-four.
Manchester United was a middle-of-the-pack team until its current ten-game unbeaten streak (7-3-0). One of the wins during that stretch came on the road at Southampton (2-1 on December 8). Given how tight the squads are in terms of points, that road win could loom large at the end of the season.
Despite the unbeaten streak, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is not satisfied with his team’s play.
“We are still building up a process. I think, as a trainer/coach and manager, that I have to analyze the performances of my players because that is the most important thing and that shows how far we are in the process,” said Van Gaal. “That is still not good enough, in my opinion, but I hope we shall improve,”
Van Gaal’s squad should come into the game a confident group. United striker Robin van Persie has scored seven goals in seven Premier League appearances against the Saints, and United have won six of their last eight EPL meetings against Southampton (6-2-0).
