Southampton under Ivan Juric are very different to the way they played under previous boss Russell Martin because most of the time they just lump it forward now, and they are far more direct.

Saints may come into this game with a bit of confidence after beating Championship side Swansea in the FA Cup, ending a run of 12 games without a victory that went back to the start of November.

I still think United will find a way to win, but I am not so sure it will be a completely routine one.

I loved the way they defended against Arsenal and I thought it was quite pointed from Ruben Amorim when he came out afterwards and talked about that desire aspect.

He was speaking about traits which you would hope were pretty basic traits for any team to have - that ability to fight and scrap for a result.

United have shown they can do that part. Now they have to show their quality too.

Prediction: 2-0

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender

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Manchester United faced Liverpool and Arsenal in the space of a week and looked good in both games.

But they are inconsistent and questions remain over why they can perform against some of the bigger teams and not against the ones in the middle or at the bottom of the table.

It seems to me that they prefer to play as underdogs. There was little expectation of them getting a result at Anfield and it is like the players prefer to go out and play when there is less pressure. This was the same at Arsenal on Sunday.

Chris Sutton
BBC Sport football expert

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I have a lot of admiration for Manchester United's performance in their FA Cup win against Arsenal, especially to grind it out with 10 men for an hour after Diogo Dalot was sent off.

But these next three games, at home against Southampton, Brighton and Rangers, are a very different test for them compared to their trips to Emirates Stadium and Anfield in the past week.

I do not want to devalue what United did against Arsenal or Liverpool but they were games where the expectation was not on them to get results.

We know United are good on the counter-attack away from home, but against Saints at Old Trafford the onus is on them to take the game to the opposition.

That is exactly where they have been struggling recently and, like I said on 606 on Sunday night, it would be just like Manchester United to be flat, find things difficult, and drop more points.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to TNT Sports about Joao Pedro: "Of course, we only let a player play when he is fully-fit and we can expect him to play 90 minutes."

On Danny Welbeck returning from injury: "Close, but not close enough to start. He will be an option from the bench."

On Lewis Dunk being replaced by Adam Webster: "Lewis had some issues and Adam had a great come back two weeks ago when he come in against Arsenal with an impressive performance.

"We give him the trust and we believe he will play a good game tonight."

On getting a win against Ipswich: "Every win gives you confidence and you believe in what you're doing.

"They changed their style of play and they're playing more vertical with long balls to Liam Delap."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made the point in the build up to tonight's game against the Premier League's bottom side Southampton that his side cannot let their standards drop after recent encouraging results at Liverpool and Arsenal.

He reinforces the point in his programme notes ahead of the game.

"In the past month, we have been to the Etihad Stadium, Anfield and the Emirates Stadium - three of the toughest places to play in the country - and taken positive outcomes from each one," he said.

"To do that requires quality and character but the job now is to show that in every single game, regardless of the opposition."

Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot serves a one-game ban after he was sent off in the FA Cup win at Arsenal on Sunday.

Jonny Evans, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are likely to remain out.

Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes is back in training and could feature following three games out with a thigh injury.

Will Smallbone is in contention to make his first Premier League appearance since 19 October after returning from injury in the FA Cup win against Swansea City.

Facing bottom of the Premier League on paper should provide Manchester United with the ideal chance to get back to winning ways.

They would be in the relegation zone based on their form over the last six matches. Only Leicester City and Southampton have amassed fewer than their four points during this period.

Since Ruben Amorim's appointment, Manchester United have won just eight league points from a possible 27.

BBC Radio 5 Live

From 19:00 GMT Eleanor Oldroyd will present build-up to Manchester United v Southampton alongside the Red Devils' former assistant head coach Rene Meulensteen.

You can also listen to live coverage of the Ipswich v Brighton game on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

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Seb Brown, Fan writer

"Brave, bold but never reckless".

That has been the message from Ipswich Town chief executive Mark Ashton before the past couple of transfer windows. With three weeks left of the January window, what do Ipswich need before it 'slams shut'?

One early arrival looks another shrewd acquisition. Ben Godfrey joined on loan from Atalanta and provides Premier League experience, physicality and pace. His arrival solves a problem position for Town given the injury woes of Axel Tuanzebe.

The attention must now shift to the forward line. Twenty goals scored so far is the third-fewest in the league, as is an average of just 10 shots per game. Ipswich need to improve these numbers in the attacking third if they are to stay up.

Jaden Philogene will provide pace, trickery, ball-carrying ability and will improve the chance creation statistics.

The key position in need of improvement before the window opened was centre-forward. Liam Delap has proven to be a revelation this season and his eight league goals show how dependent Town are on him staying fit.

His natural back-up George Hirst has only managed 180 minutes this season as two separate injuries have disrupted his campaign. It is vital Ipswich can secure another striker to help Delap and Hirst share the workload before the season ends. Delap's all-action playing style takes its toll and the drop in quality when he is substituted is apparent.

The past two January windows have proved masterstrokes from the Ipswich owners and management, providing the springboard for remarkable second halves of the respective seasons.

The recent upturn in league form has given hope that Ipswich can stay in the Premier League, so it is time to be brave and bold again.

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Ipswich beat Chelsea 2-0 in their most recent Premier League outing at Portman Road and it would've come as a huge relief for manager Kieran McKenna.

It was Ipswich's first Premier League win at home since April 2002 and also their first league victory over Chelsea since 1993.

Speaking ahead of the Brighton game, McKenna said that the first win "changes the narrative a little bit" as that will have continued to be the "question" asked before every home match.

"It took a bit longer, but nice to not have that question now. When we get the second win will be the next question," he said.

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Ipswich and Brighton will face each other at Portman Road in the top flight for the first time in more than four decades tonight.

The two teams last met in the top division in January 1983 when Ipswich were 2-0 winners.

The last team they met at the venue was in the Championship in September 2016 in a 0-0 draw.

Ipswich Town make three changes from the side that began their last league fixture, the 2-2 draw at Fuham.

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who scored in the 3-0 FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers at the weekend, comes in for club captain Sam Morsy, with the armband handing over to Dara O'Shea.

Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson also start, while Ben Godfrey is among the substitutes and could make his first Premier League appearance for Town following his loan move from Atalanta.

Ipswich Town XI: Walton, Davis, Greaves, Woolfenden, O'Shea, Cajuste, Phillips, Broadhead, Burns, Hutchinson, Delap.

Subs: Muric, Johnson, Godfrey, Morsy, Luongo, Taylor, Townsend, J Clarke, Hirst.

Two changes for Brighton from the side that drew 1-1 with Arsenal. Adam Webster and Kaoru Mitoma come in for Igor Julio and Brajan Gruda.

Lewis Dunk is on the bench and could make his first appearance of 2025.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Estupinan, Van Hecke, Webster, Veltman, Ayari, Baleba O'Riley, Mitoma, Adingra, Pedro.

Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Dunk, March, Moder, Minteh, Enciso, Rutter, Welbeck.

Simon Stone at Old Trafford
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

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Victories for West Ham and Crystal Palace during the current Premier League match round mean Manchester United have dropped to 15th place ahead of tonight's game with Southampton..

It is a quite incredible situation for the club to find itself in having spent so much on players over the past few years and does not reflect well on United's recruitment policy.

It is going to take some time to sort the mess out and while expectations are limited, evidently, it is Ruben Amorim's job to improve the current situation pretty quickly.

After tonight, United entertain Brighton, so they do have an opportunity to climb up the table.

However, even if United won both games, the highest they could get to is 10th.

In case the worst happens tonight, it would be the lowest position United had been in at the end of a match round at such an advanced point of the season since they were 16th heading into the final game of the 1989-90 campaign.

Good evening!

The midweek Premier League bonanza continues tonight with two games, with the focus very much on the bottom half of the table. Here's what we've got:

Ipswich v Brighton (19:30 GMT)

Man Utd v Southampton (20:00 GMT)

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It has been a difficult start to life as Manchester United manager for Ruben Amorim.

They have won just one of their last seven Premier League games and currently sit 15th in the table, seven points above the relegation zone.

But their last two performances have provided encouragement as they drew with league leaders Liverpool and beat Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup.

The test now is to see if they can carry that momentum on to get three big points against struggling Southampton...