Man Utd V Southampton Barclays Premier League Match 19 -October 2013. Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is a doubt with a calf injury sustained on international duty with the Netherlands.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley (calf) will be assessed, while defender Rio Ferdinand could return from a groin problem.Watch Man Utd V Southampton Live, Watch Man Utd V Southampton Live Stream, Watch Man Utd V Southampton Free Live Stream, Watch Man Utd V Southampton Online, Watch Man Utd V Southampton Online Free, Man Utd V Southampton Live, Man Utd V Southampton live stream Online.
Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc is available despite reports that he missed Poland's defeat by England because of a hamstring injury.
Luke Shaw withdrew from England Under-21 duty with illness but is now fit.
MATCH PREVIEW
It is back to the day jobs for Wayne Rooney and - calf injury permitting - Robin van Persie after some very successful international moonlighting. Rooney's goals were certainly important in guiding England to the World Cup, whilst a Van Persie hat-trick against Hungary made him the Netherlands' all-time top scorer, beating Patrick Kluivert's record.
For all this finery though, United go into the Southampton game four points adrift of their visitors, who are in their highest league position - fourth - since December 2003.
Two meetings between United and Southampton stick in my mind. One was a 3-3 draw I commentated on in 1999, still the only Premier League point the Saints have won at United.
This was Massimo Taibi's match, only not in a good way. Peter Schmeichel had left and with Mark Bosnich injured, the £4.5m Italian goalkeeper came into the team.
The home game with Southampton was his third appearance after uncertain displays against Liverpool and Wimbledon. Two of the Saints goals were not his fault - but, oh boy, what about the one that was?!
Matt Le Tissier struck probably the worst shot of his career, an effort that travelled about as achingly slow as Le Tissier himself might whilst back-tracking after a winger, only for Taibi's arms and legs to open wide and create a perfect tunnel through which the ball trundled into the net.
In his next, and last United game, Taibi let in five against Chelsea.
The other match which springs to mind was the 1976 FA Cup final. I was eight and had recently suffered heartbreak for the first time when Steve Coppell left Tranmere Rovers to play for United. I just couldn't understand why he would want to do such a thing.
Years later Coppell told me that he played at Wembley that Saturday before starting his economics final exams the following week.
Now why would you want to carry on at university if you're playing for Manchester United? Bit daft - you might as well send a monkey into space.
Anyway, Coppell was now on the wing for United, and with the bitter, green-eyed jealousy that only spurned love can engender, I was supporting Southampton. Remarkably, Division Two Saints won thanks to a goal from the late Bobby Stokes.
Having witnessed my longed for revenge materialise before my eyes on the TV screen, I felt terribly, crushingly guilty. Somewhere in there, is a lesson in life.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester United have won eight successive matches against Southampton in all competitions since a 1-0 away defeat in August 2003 when James Beattie scored the only goal.
Saints have failed to win on their last 18 league trips to Old Trafford (D2, L16), with their most recent draw a 3-3 thriller in September 1999.
Their last league win away to United was by 2-0 in January 1988.
They also won an FA Cup fourth-round replay on United turf in 1992, courtesy of a penalty shootout.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have not lost back-to-back Premier League home games since defeats to Middlesbrough and Arsenal in 2002.
Since the start of last season, no defender has assisted more goals than Patrice Evra (six).
They have scored just three Premier League goals at home this term - only Stoke (two) have a lower tally.
United have used 24 different players in their starting line-ups for Premier League games - more than any other team this season.
Excluding penalties, Robin van Persie has failed to score in 14 of his last 18 Premier League games, including the last five.
Southampton
Saints have the best defensive record in the division, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just twice.
Six of their seven league goals this term have been scored in the second half.
They have lost only three of their last 19 games in league and cup.