Manchester United boss Ole Gunner Solskjaer is expected to name an unchanged side for the fifth straight game on Monday night, as his in-form team target third place in the Premier League.
Last week the Red Devils made history by becoming the first Premier League team to win four consecutive matches by a margin of three or more goals.
Bruno Fernandes and 18-year-old striker Mason Greenwood have been their two outstanding stars in this latest run of victories, both with four goals in their last three games – 3-0 wins over Brighton and Aston Villa either side of a 5-2 drubbing of Bournemouth.
And Solskjaer has hinted he will stick with the same starting XI when they welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Monday evening, as they hope to extend their big winning record to five and push into the top-three.
“There’s so many things you have to consider when you manage a team,” said the manager ahead of the game.
“We’ve got players here champing at the bit, but also those that are in the rhythm.
“There are loads of decisions to be made, but they make it easier by playing and performing well. If we don’t get too many injuries, there’s no reason to change too much when you’re doing well.”
The last time United fielded an unchanged XI in five successive Premier League games was in the inaugural Premier League season.
Sir Alex Ferguson actually kept faith with the same group of players across six games in January and February 1993 as the club ended 24 years without a league title.
There’s no chance of a title now, but the club are still in the FA Cup and Europa League and United have the chance to take advantage of Leicester City’s slip in the race for the top-four on Sunday.
The Foxes suffered a stunning collapse against relegation battlers Bournemouth, who came back from 1-0 down to claim a remarkable 3-1 victory over Brendan Rodgers’ side.
That meant United remain just one point behind Leicester on 58 points in fifth, and could leapfrog them AND Chelsea, on 60 points, and into third place with a win over the Saints.
And with just three games remaining after their Southampton clash, and with United absolutely flying in a run of 17 games unbeaten in all competitions, it would mark an incredible change of fortunes for the club since the turn of 2020.
In January, United were having their worst Premier League season EVER under the Norwegian, and now they have Champions League football within their grasp.
Meanwhile, Solskjaer has backed goalkeeper David de Gea as the Spaniard prepares to make his 400th appearances for the Red Devils.
There have been major question marks over the 29-year-old’s form this season, especially with Dean Henderson impressing on loan for Sheffield United.
But Ole says his faith in the glovesman – who he recently insisted is still the best in the world – has never wavered.
De Gea usurped United legend Peter Schmeichel’s tally of 398 games in a United shirt in Thursday’s win over Aston Villa, with Alex Stepney now the only goalkeeper to have made more appearances for the club.
Solskjaer says De Gea has been best goalkeeper in world for ‘last nine or 10 years’
“To be a Man United goalkeeper, you have to have a strong mentality,” said the boss.
“David has a strong mentality and he has been here for so long.
“He is now going to come up to 400 games and you don’t do that by being afraid of the limelight or being afraid of Old Trafford.
“You do that by walking out on to that pitch again and showing them your quality and mentality.
“He’s a strong, strong character and I didn’t see any good in taking him out at all, no.”
De Gea’s position as number one raises questions over the future of England hopeful Henderson, while an unchanged starting line-up for four successive league matches has left a number of players on the outside looking in.
Solskjaer says he has began planning for next season, but conversations with those that may want to leave Old Trafford pastures new will have to wait.
“Not really because you don’t really have the time or focus,” the United boss said.
“You can’t think three months ahead now with players who are in and around the first team.
“Of course, there’s youngsters who you know are going to go out on loan, that need that exposure, game time.
“But the ones are who are in and around the first team now, they only have one focus and that’s Southampton.
“Then it’s onto the next one, then it’s onto the next one. We need to finish the season strong.”
