Manchester United will be without their defender in the coming game against Southampton

Diogo Dalot to Miss First Game of the Season Against Southampton

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot will miss his first match of the season when the team plays Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night (20:00 GMT kick-off).

Dalot, who represents Portugal, received a red card in the 61st minute of the FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal. He was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Mikel Merino, which means he will be suspended for this Premier League match. However, the suspension only applies to domestic games, so he will still be available for United’s next FA Cup match against Leicester City next month.

Dalot’s Consistent Presence in the Team

Dalot, named Players’ Player of the Year, has been a key player for Manchester United this season. He has shown flexibility by playing on both flanks and has adapted well to a left wing-back role under coach Ruben Amorim. His solid performance in the recent 2-2 draw against Liverpool highlighted his importance to the team.

Despite regular rotation by Amorim, Dalot has been a constant starter in most matches. The only match he didn’t start in the 2024/25 season was the Europa League game against Bodo/Glimt, which was Amorim’s first home match in charge. In that game, Tyrell Malacia started but Dalot came on as a substitute at halftime.

Team Changes in Dalot’s Absence

With Dalot out, two of his teammates—Alejandro Garnacho and Noussair Mazraoui—could have the chance to equal Dalot’s appearance record this season.

Dalot’s absence could also allow Malacia to start against Southampton, after he impressed during his performance against Raheem Sterling in the FA Cup match at Arsenal. While Garnacho moved back to help cover the left wing after Dalot’s red card, he has not yet been selected to play wing-back under Amorim.

Manchester United will look to maintain their strong performance at Old Trafford as they prepare to face Southampton.