“If you start both of them together and you don’t score FIVE or more goals, hold me responsibile”: Erik ten Hag told TWO players he must start against Southampton if he really wants to win the match
Paul Merson has named two Manchester United stars who should start the Premier League clash at Southampton, even though one is ‘struggling at the moment’.
United travel to St. Mary’s on Saturday after losing two of their opening three games of the season, with Erik ten Hag already under significant pressure.
Securing the three points is imperative therefore, even more so given that this is on paper one of their easiest fixtures of the entire campaign.
Southampton’s return to the top-flight has not begun well, with no points and just one goal in three games placing them 19th in the table as it stands.
Yet, the Saints will feel this game is winnable given that United have scored just twice so far thanks to a misfiring and injury hit forward line, with Marcus Rashford taking the brunt of criticism from fans and pundits.
The England international has failed to have a single shot despite starting the opening three games and fans jeered Ten Hag when he subbed Alejandro Garnahco off instead during the 3-0 loss to Liverpool.
But Merson believes he deserves another chance, telling Sportskeeda: ‘Even though Marcus Rashford is struggling at the moment, he still gets into my team.
‘I would definitely play him in this fixture. You’ve also got to start with Joshua Zirkzee.
‘Ten Hag has to quickly identify his best team though. We still haven’t got a clue on how Manchester United will line-up against Southampton and that’s a major problem.
‘The challenge for Ten Hag is that his players only returned from international duty on Thursday and they are in action in the early kick-off on Saturday. That means just one session on Friday before they hit the road.’
