Southampton will host Manchester United in the first Premier League game since the recent international break.
The Saints are looking to get their first points on the board after losing all three of their first three games of the season.
Similarly, United, also need a win — the Red Devils are under pressure to win their second game of the campaign after suffering back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Liverpool.
Ahead of the game, both sides have named their starting lineups, and for United, there are some surprises.
Erik Ten Hag has opted to drop Casemiro to the bench following a disastrous first-half performance against Liverpool last time out.
Fans did suspect new signing Manuel Ugarte would come straight in for a like-for-like replacement, but the Uruguay international will join Casemiro on the Red Devils’ bench.
Man United fans react to Eriksen starting against Southampton
Instead, Christian Eriksen will lineup alongside Kobbie Mainoo at the base of United’s midfield, and fans have reacted.
Eriksen and Mainoo interesting.
— umphanto wezinsizwa (@HlongwanaKhule) September 14, 2024
✍️
Ten Hag choose Eriksen Over Casemiro + ugarte Definitely Southampton isnt that bad what he thinks with this midfield lack of running My god #mufc— Mufc•RaiN (@mufcRain) September 14, 2024
✍️
Ten Hag choose Eriksen Over Casemiro + ugarte Definitely Southampton isnt that bad what he thinks with this midfield lack of running My god #mufc— Mufc•RaiN (@mufcRain) September 14, 2024
completely forgot eriksen was still employed by this club
— د (@rashsfords) September 14, 2024
Eriksen? Is ten hag asking for the sack?
— Kisuke (@I_am_Kisuke) September 14, 2024
Without doubt, Ericsen does it always & was going to make the game a beauty with his masterclass ball play & proven creativity & attacking prowess when deployed in a more advanced role. His undoing in the previous season’s tactics has been putting him in defensive roles alongside Mctominay & forcing him to cover too deep while his partner has instead drifted off to hunt for goals to his name. This got him mistakened to be “too slow”, ” too old & out of legs.” He’s only one year older than Bruno. Ericsen ever stands out as man of the match most of time he is on national duty for Denmark🇩🇰. This is what a big no.of fans don’t realise. Christian is an attacker & a playmaker all throughout his career. He actually offers a perfect complement to Bruno in maintaining ball possession, eases too much reliance on the captain in the creative engine room, making alongside Fernandez a duo attacking patnership. The captain has consistently been the sole & predictable playmakers, & defenders hv been simply sandwiching Bruno allowing him no space to orchestrate attacks. Any of Chris & Bruno can hurt you when another is overmarked. They also do good position swapping to neutralize manmarkers. These two are equally serious, intelligent, experieced attacking geniuses & yet still phisically fit, and agile master class game dectators, playmakers, clever ball passers, they both are comfortably good on the ball & hard opponents to disposes or giveaway the ball easily. I pray Christian will indeed be maintained this season, just as in 🔟🫂’s first season with United, as starter oftenly & in an advanced role. Ugarte wld actually give him the spine to press opponents alongside or a little behind or even infront of Bruno, with the now great wingers & reasonable target strikers at our disposal.