Five things we learned as Manchester United beat Southampton 9-0

Manchester United are back to winning ways after a rare easy win.

United led 4-0 by half-time before closing out the game with a 9-0 victory.

Here is a look at five things we learned from an enjoyable night for the team at Old Trafford…

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-SOUTHAMPTON — Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Red card set up an easy night

Southampton came into the game with a depleted team due to injuries. Their task got harder when Alexandre Jankewitz was red carded after 78 seconds.

Referees try to be lenient with early challenges. There was no choice in this instance. It was an abysmal high challenge on Scott McTominay which fully deserved a straight red.

Sometimes it can be tough playing against 10 men, and United didn’t break through straight away. Once the first goal was scored in the 18th minute, United never looked back.

Southampton rarely give United an easy game, having drawn three of the last five games and only losing the other two by a single goal. Fortunately United came up against the Saints on an off night.

Full-backs on fire

United’s breakthrough came from a surprise source, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who scored his second ever goal for the club.

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He was on the end of a cross from Luke Shaw, who was outstanding on the night and had increased his season assist tally from two to four by half-time.

Shaw created five chances in the first half alone as he carried on a tremendous patch of form. He was substituted at the break, with his contribution already having sewn up the result.

Manchester United v Southampton - Premier League — Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Attack finally clicks

United struggled to score goals in January, netting just six goals in six league games. This was a case of getting back on track.

Marcus Rashford scored his first league goal since December, while Edinson Cavani netted his first at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial came off the bench and scored his first goal since the start of January, and then added another in injury time.

This could be a turning point for the team, and the players, and lifts confidence at a crucial time after a couple of poor results.

A boost for goal difference

Ever since the early 6-1 home loss to Spurs, United have been left playing catch up on goal difference in the league.

This was a step in the right direction, with United now up to +19, equalling Liverpool.

City are still five goals ahead in terms of goal difference, but that gap was 14 before this game. The gap is closing and now looks possible to cut down.

Van de Beek gets half a game

While it was disappointing Van de Beek was snubbed again from the start, he at least got 45 minutes against Southampton to show what he could do.

Solskjaer will be pleased with how he kept it tidy and United did not let up, even though Shaw’s presence was missed on the left.

This was a good chance for him to play alongside Fernandes. Often he only gets on as a stand-in for the Portuguese star.

He didn’t need to too much, just get forward and help swamp Southampton’s undermanned defence.

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