Southampton 0-0 Manchester United: Premier League - as it happened

Well that brings an end to our live blog for tonight. We're back tomorrow for the penultimate day of the Premier League season as Leicester host Tottenham.

But until then, its goodbye.

A Premier League dead rubber in every sense and in the end a boring goalless draw follows as this campaign limps to a finale. Saints played like a side who have not scored at home in six hours, United like one who are focused on a season-defining Europa League final next week. What resulted was a shocking game of few genuine chances.

Full time: Southampton 0-0 Manchester United

I'm so sorry.

Into four added minutes at St Mary's. Please let it stop. Southampton now six hours without a goal at home.

Jay Rodriguez onside but shoots wide. Hard to see a goal coming now I must admit, though it has been a much better second half with chances for both sides.

Boufal on for Ward-Prowse in a change which is not met with unanimous approval from the St Mary's crowd. Twelve minutes left.

Marouane Fellaini replaced by Ander Herrera. The Belgian also marches down the tunnel. I doubt we will see him again until next week.

AGAINST THE POST! Anthony Martial curls goalwards and it beats Forster, but bounces flush against the up right. So close as we enter the final 20 minutes.

Pied on for the injured Cedric meanwhile for Southampton. His first home appearance since the opening day.

Juan Mata off and Marcus Rashford on. The Spaniard goes right down the tunnel. No sign of an injury.

Chris Smalling gallops forward and finds Rooney in the box. The England captain tees up Mata but he curls well wide.

Michael Carrick on for Manchester United in an attempt to stem the flow of pressure. Southampton have dominated this half.

Chance for Southampton. United can't clear a corner and the ball drops to Jack Stephens who takes a swing at the ball from a tight angle, it flies across the face of goal but the visitors scramble the ball clear. Saints have done all the pushing in this half and now Romero saves from Ward-Prowse.

Dusan Tadic has his effort saved by Romero, who beats the ball away. Southampton have started the second half with some zip about their play.

Without the rights to show the Europa League final, you can tell Sky Sports' reporters are mentioning the game through gritted teeth - trying their best to retain attention on the present, which is almost impossible.

The game has restarted by the way, and yes nothing is happening.

Thirty-two years have passed since the last goalless draw between these two in the top flight. Pray that run isn't broken tonight.

Players out for the second half. Please improve, please.

Half time: Southampton 0-0 Manchester United

Well the scoreline might be predictable but how we got there might surprise some. Southampton should be ahead but their wait for a home goal goes on as their third penalty miss in five games saw Sergio Romero save from Manolo Gabbiadini. Manchester United have offered very little going forward bar a few shots from range and look like a side with half an eye on tests to come. The second half could be a long affair.

Nathan Redmond takes aim from range which is held by Sergio Romero. At the other end, Rooney can't test Forster with an effort which balloons over.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are playing for one place in the United team for next week's Europa League final, if Jose Mourinho's pre-match comments are to be believed. I'd say Smalling has the edge at this stage over his England teammate, simply on reliability and experience.

Not surprisingly, this game has descended into a bit of slow affair as the game has progressed with little to separate the two sides. I watched Southampton host Arsenal last week and they quickly lost interest once they went behind. You fancy that may happen to either side tonight.

The game has finally settled down with United having much of the ball and displaying the greater threat, while Southampton are happy to foray forward when given the chance. Even game it must be said, since the frantic start.

James Ward-Prowse shoots wide from a free-kick, and at the other end Mkhitaryan goes one better forcing Forster into a full length save.

Sergio Romero saves Gabbiadini's early penalty.

Some virtuoso play from Wayne Rooney who brings the ball down and plays a superb first time pass for Martial, but the Frenchman drags his shot wide.

Romeu booked for a foul on Mkhitaryan inside a frenetic first 10 minutes. The Armenian is ok to continue however.

Not had the opportunity to look at a second replay but Bailly looked to be outside of his area when he handled the ball, so justice has been done to an extent with Romero saving from Gabbiadini.

Bailly is in the thick of the action again, rampaging forward and forcing a save from Forster.

Drama at St Mary's. Eric Bailly almost catches the ball in his penalty area from a long ball downfield and Mike Dean points to the spot. Manolo Gabbiadini has the chance to give Saints the lead but Sergio Romero guesses right and turns the ball behind. Great start.

PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON

Underway at St Mary's. Something like the EFL Cup final, please.

Is there a worse club anthem than the one which greets Southampton at St Mary's? Doubtful. Players on the pitch on the south coast and kick-off is on the way.

Tonight there is also the small matter of the battle for the Premier League with Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday battle it out to join Reading in the Championship play-off final. We'll have updates as the evening progresses from Hillsborough.

Great insight into preparations ahead of kick-off courtesy of Southampton's Twitter page.

United warming up ahead of kick-off.

Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports: "I would prefer to be working, training and preparing. I would like to make more changes but we feel a responsibility to compete for the result. We are going to do that tonight."

David de Gea left out tonight. Is that the last we've seen of him in a Manchester United shirt? Real Madrid are prowling to say the least and if he does not feature against Crystal Palace you have to fear the Spaniard's days in England are numbered.

As we head towards the end of the Premier League season naturally attention turns to the best and worst parts of the campaign. The IBT office is currently debating its worst XI of the season. Got any suggestions? Leave a comment to join the debate.

Much of the reason for their being pressure on Claude Puel stems from Southampton's home form. Just three sides have accumulated fewer points on their own patch while only Sunderland have scored fewer goals at home. Not a good omen ahead of kick-off.

Fair to say some of my pre-match enthusiasm has been deflated by the below tweet. Southampton are closing in on nearly 300 minutes without a home league goal too.

A wet day across the south of England. Can Southampton vs United warm us all up tonight?

So what can we read into the team news from both sides?

Southampton are back to full strength as Claude Puel looks to round off their penultimate home game of the season with a win.

Jose Mourinho has given Sergio Romero a run-out a week ahead of the Europa League final, while Marcus Rashford has again been held back. Wayne Rooney starts as he approaches the end of his United career.

Eight changes made by Southampton. Forster, Yoshida and Romeu are the only players retained from the win over Middlesbrough. Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic among those to return.

Four changes for United from the loss at Tottenham. Sergio Romero starts in goal, Matteo Darmian at the back while Marouane Fellaini is joined by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Teams in from St Mary's.....

Nothing on the line tonight? There is £1.9m on the line for each place in the Premier League meaning eighth-place Southampton could miss out on millions if they finish outside the top half come the end of play on Sunday. Just the £124m on offer for finishing eighth - in what could prove pivotal come the transfer window.

If indeed Claude Puel is under pressure at Southampton then how crucial will tonight's game prove to be? The Frenchman has largely impressed at St Mary's but a slump since losing the EFL Cup final and a low style of play has earned him few admirers on the south coast. A top half finish, however, could help stem the decline.

Teams on the way from St Mary's, but how might both sides line up?

Charlie Austin is in line to return after a shoulder injury suffered in December.

Daley Blind will miss out having played in six of the last seven games. Marouane Fellaini returns from suspension, Paul Pogba is on compassionate leave while Sergio Romero could play.

Dead rubber I hear you say? The Premier League may only have 12 games remaining but there is plenty on the line as we reach the twilight of the campaign. Southampton host Manchester United in a repeat of the thrilling EFL Cup final which much to play for.

Saints boss Claude Puel is under pressure having won one of his last six games, despite reaching a domestic cup final. The south coast club are a win away from securing a top half berth however, which could surely convince the ownership - current or incoming - that he is fit to remain.

United meanwhile have two games to regain some momentum before next weeks' Europa League final against Ajax. Defeats to Arsenal and Tottenham have derailed them somewhat but Jose Mourinho will want to take six points into the critical game in Stockholm.

Team news and updates on the way from 7:45pm BST.