Manchester United's Robin van Persie (L) is fouled by Southampton's Sadio Mane during their English Premier League soccer match at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England December 8, 2014.
Manchester United's Robin van Persie (L) is fouled by Southampton's Sadio Mane during their English Premier League soccer match at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England December 8, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Winning

Manchester United will play Southampton this Sunday at Old Trafford hoping to remain on the third place at the Barclays Premier League. After 20 matches in the league Manchester United have 37 points and Southampton have 36.

In the last five matches across all competitions Manchester United have won two and drawn three. Southampton on the other hand have won three and drawn two.

Manchester United have no recognised wing backs left as all four players in Luke Shaw, Rafael Da Silva, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have been injured. Louis van Gaal will be relieved to have Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind to be available for this match after being out with injury.

In the last 10 matches between the two teams Manchester United have won seven matches, drawn two and lost one. At Old Trafford Manchester United have won three of the last four matches and drawn the other one.

The last corresponding fixture ended in a one all draw. In the last match between these two teams at the league this season Manchester United won thanks to a brace from Robin van Persie. The match ended 1-2 in Manchester United's favour.

Manchester United came out of the Christmas fixture congestion without a single defeat. This would make Louis van Gaal and his men very confident in the future about the prospects of his team. With more reinforcements arriving shortly the team would be in the right frame of mind to make an almighty push towards the title.

Southampton come into this match with huge potentials of upsetting the top teams, especially this season. In the last six matches they have already beaten Manchester United, Everton and drawn with Chelsea. They nearly match the Red Devils with the number of points that each team have. They must also keep in mind that an already weak Manchester United defence have been weakened still because of injury. If they can take the attack to the opposition then Southampton might get something out of this game.

At the fourth round draw for the FA Cup Manchester United have been drawn away to League Two club Cambridge United. They are the lowest ranked team still at the FA Cup this season. They have met twice before and have won one match and drawn the other.

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