It's really hard to complain if you're a Manchester United fan. Has the team been in iffy form of late and punted some points that it probably shouldn't? Sure. But the reason the Red Devils aren't feel chipper going into the new year is due to the fact that they know they're playing for second-best in the Premier League already. They're in that second position as we've crossed into the second half of the year, but there's reason to believe this match against Southampton is set to be a third-straight dud after back-to-back draws.
This English Premier League duel will go down Saturday, December 30, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. ET at Old Trafford. The match will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United -300
Southampton +700
Draw +425
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
The Red Devils have been playing some high-scoring matches of late. A pair of 2-2 draws against Burnley and Leicester City has left plenty of questions to be answered by a normally-conservative Jose Mourinho
Not surprisingly, the total in this match is quite high by Man U's standards at 2.5 with -135 vig on the over.
The Red Devils are -300 favorites and are laying a goal and a quarter on the Asian Handicap against a Southampton team that is still quietly in the midst of the relegation battle.
Key Injuries
United is playing without a slew of important players at the moment, and it should be commended for staying in second place on the table in spite of them. Eric Bailly, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Enner Valencia all missed the match against Burnley. Matteo Darmian was a late scratch as was Anthony Martial. Chris Smalling was pulled off against Leicester City a week ago kept him out of the fold against the Clarets as well.
None of these men are guaranteed to suit up for the last match of 2017.
Southampton is playing without Ryan Bertrand at the moment due to a hamstring problem. The only other major absence for the Saints is to Charlie Austin. Austin is in the midst of a three-match ban for violent conduct against Huddersfield on December 23.
Recent Form
It isn't so much that United has drawn two straight matches against mid-table teams that is that concerning. It's that the team can't seem to keep its own net clean. That's eight times in nine matches that the Red Devils have conceded, and that's incredibly unlike a Mourinho-coached squad.
Southampton, which has the same number of wins as 18th-place Bournemouth (4), is fresh off of a 5-2 waxing at Wembley Stadium against Tottenham. The team had no answers for Harry Kane that day, and that's now three defeats in four matches for the Saints.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Even though Virgil van Dijk isn't formally out for this match, we know that he has already left Southampton. He's headed to Liverpool on the biggest transfer in Southampton history. The move could prove to be prudent should the Saints survive this year, but there's no doubt that without van Dijk, they aren't nearly good enough to compete with these top teams, especially on the road.
Romelu Lukaku continues to defy the odds that were stacked against him at the start of the year when he was tipped to not be the right type of striker for Mourinho to utilize. He has 10 goals over the course of the first 20 matches of the season, and he's quietly been one of the best players in England all year long.
If the Saints weren't able to slow Kane down, it's hard to imagine they're going to have much for Lukaku, especially without their best defender in the fold.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester United 3, Southampton 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
