Manchester United host Southampton tonight in the first game they are widely expected to win in more than a month.

Basement club Southampton have won once all season and have six points. They are winless in 17 against United and have not beaten them since January 2016.

Tonight is the first of three home fixtures within a week for United, who return to Old Trafford on the back of two uplifting performances away at Liverpool and Arsenal, the latter ensuring progression to the FA Cup fourth round.

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Here are five things to look out for in United's first home match of 2025 tonight:

Time to back it up

One suspects and hopes for United’s sake that Ruben Amorim has told his players that they have not won a game for a month.

Sunday was a victory on penalties and Amorim referred to the match as a draw at his post-match press conference. United have not won in 90 minutes since the Manchester derby on December 15.

For the first time in weeks, United are heading into a match expected to win. With that comes pressure, even against one of the most ill-equipped teams to enter the top flight in living memory.

Who's on the wing?

The ends have justified the means amid Amorim's insistence on full backs as wingers in the past two games. Such pragmatism is not warranted against Southampton.

It would appear a contradiction to take Amad, United's player of the season, away from an attacking role to a wide role but United should be gung-ho tonight. Amad could slot in on the right and Noussair Mazraoui remain on the left.

Tyrell Malacia is the obvious alternative but he has not started since his half-time substitution against Bournemouth last month.

Any more changes?

Amorim only made two changes on Sunday and Amad's substitute status was enforced. Plenty would advocate Andre Onana and Amad's recalls as the only two changes but United had a gruelling two hours against Arsenal on Sunday and host Brighton on Sunday.

Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, scorers in the shootout at the Emirates Stadium, are entitled to expect a start this week.

Zirkzee or Hojlund?

Colleague Tyrone Marshall nailed it when he said every time he watches Zirkzee he thinks Hojlund should start and every time he watches Hojlund he thinks Zirkzee should start.

Hojlund has managed two Premier League goals all season as United's new No.9 and was harmless at Arsenal. Zirkzee was much more effective and would merit a recall.

Beware the home banker

United were at home to Sheffield United in January 2021 in what was effectively top against bottom. United needed a win to return to the summit and Sheffield United were 20th. It was not the home banker United hoped it would be as they lost 2-1.

That was only Sheffield United's second league victory of the season after 20 games. In 2005-06, United's late title tilt ended with a bad performance on Good Friday against Sunderland, who collected their 12th point of the season as they were relegated.