You may have already seen it, but in case you didnโt, Southampton FC created a video game for mobile devices to launch their new kit. In the vein of 8-bit Nintendo or 16 bit Sega Genesis, the game trolls Liverpool pretty hilariously, and Manchester United as well, not once, but twice.
You can go here to read more on that, but the timing could not have been perfect as the two sides will clash at Old Trafford on Monday night. United will certainly be very motivated to get all three points here, having had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in August.
Both sides were playing a lot worse back then, during pre-COVID times, as Saints resembled a potential relegation candidate and United suffered from wild inconsistency. Now both sides are much improved, with United having a chance to go third in the table with a win, and Saints now closer to the Europa League qualifying slots than they are the drop zone.
Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe remain the only absences for United, a team that basically has a clean bill of health right now.
The same could not be said for the south coast club where Moussa Djenepo, Sofiane Boufal, Nathan Tella and Yan Valery are all ruled out and may not even return this season.
However, defender Jannik Vestergaard could return, as he faces a late fitness test and if so, will be looking to score again on the Red Devils.
Manchester United vs Southampton FC FYIs
Kickoff: Mon July 13, 8:15 pm,ย Old Trafford
United starting XI Prediction: go to this link
TV Coverage:ย NBCSN
Odds:ย Southampton win +1050ย ย Man United win -375
Form Guide:ย Southamptonย ย DWWLWย ย ย United WWWWW
Position:ย Man United 5th, 58 pointsย ย ย Southampton 12th, 44 points
Prediction: United 3, Southamptonย 0
With United undefeated in their last 17, across all competitions, you’d have to be really bold to pick against them in this one.
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.net, whichย is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, the author ofย โNo, I Canโt Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,โ regularly contributes toย WGN TV,ย Sports Illustrated,ย Chicago Nowย andย SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer forย Chicago Tribune.com,ย onย Twitterย and hisย cat on Instagram.
