Southampton vs Manchester United. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,425.
Wednesday 17 May 2017 22:07, UK
Manchester United are set to be without Paul Pogba when they visit Southampton, live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Wednesday.
The France international, who also missed the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, is on compassionate leave following the death of his father on Friday.
United boss Jose Mourinho is expected to rotate his squad as they prepare for their Europa League final against Ajax on May 24.
They can no longer make the top four, leaving next Wednesday's final in Stockholm as the only route to Champions League qualification.
Southampton and United met in the EFL Cup final at Wembley in February, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's winner the difference in a 3-2 victory for United.
But Southampton boss Claude Puel insists their midweek Premier League reunion should not be billed as a revenge mission.
"It's just another game," Puel said. "It's been a long time since the (EFL Cup) final against United.
"The game is not revenge because it's important to keep a good energy and to enjoy our football and just to focus about this, not anything else."
Southampton have no fresh injury worries as they continue their push for a top-eight Premier League finish.
Virgil van Dijk has returned to training and is running again as he recovers from a foot injury, but the Dutch centre-half remains sidelined for their final two games of the season.
Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (hamstring) is also back in training but is not available to feature, while Charlie Austin could make his first start since recovering from a long-term shoulder injury.
Mourinho is planning changes for the trip, with Pogba again absent.
Daley Blind will be among those rested at St Mary's but Marouane Fellaini is available after serving a three match-ban.
Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo (both knee), Ashley Young (hamstring), Luke Shaw (foot) and Tim Fosu-Mensah (shoulder) are out through injury.
Southampton are winless in their last five home Premier League games against United, losing four of those by a single goal margin (D1).
United's last away defeat in the Premier League to Southampton came in August 2003, with James Beattie scoring the only goal of the game.
Four of United's five goals against Southampton in all competitions this season have been scored by Ibrahimovic, who has been ruled out for the season.
Manolo Gabbadiani netted both of Southampton's goals in the EFL Cup Final in February.
United have come from behind to beat Southampton on eight occasions in the Premier League (including in this exact fixture last season) - the most any team has done so against another in the competition's history.
Southampton have failed to score in their last three home league games, with their goalless drought at St Mary's currently standing at four hours and 35 minutes. They've never gone four top-flight home games without a goal.
United haven't lost three successive Premier League games in a row (or in a single month) since December 2015 under Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho's side have won more points away from home this season in the Premier League (34 in 18 games) than they have at Old Trafford (31 in 18 games).
Even if Southampton win their remaining two Premier League matches of the season, the maximum points tally that they can achieve is 51 points - this will be lower than in 2015/16 (63), 2014/15 (60) and 2013/14 (56).
United (17 wins) need to win both of their remaining Premier League games in 2016/17 to avoid it being their lowest tally of wins in a single Premier League season. They won 19 in both 2013/14 and 2015/16.
Man Utd just keep playing game after game! That's what happens when you're successful.
I think Mourinho has to start the team that will play in the Europa League final. It's no good resting all of the players for two weeks' time, everyone will be rusty by Stockholm.
I think he'll be putting his cup final team out, and if he doesn't do it this game, he surely won't do it for the Palace match on the last day. You can't let players go two weeks without a game before a cup final like that.
I think his Europa League team will beat Southampton. Puel is under a bit of pressure; they finished seventh last year, but what would you rather: finish seventh and not look like doing anything, or finish 12th and get into a cup final, which they should have won?
Football is all about moments, I'd rather be in the cup final. I think he deserves another chance.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
Gabbiadini and Marcus Rashford head the first goalscorer betting at 5/1 despite neither starting their sides' respective last games, while Antony Martial is enhanced from 13/2 to 15/2 to net first in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.
Mourinho's side may have fallen short of the top-four this season but they are considered 11/4 second favourites to win the Premier League title next season, while the Saints are up against odds of 150/1.
Watch Southampton v Manchester United on Premier League Live from 7.30pm on Wednesday on Sky Sports 1 HD - and stay tuned to see the short film WONDERKID straight after the game.
