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Five things we learned from Manchester United 1-1 Southampton

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Manchester United returned to action at Old Trafford when they hosted Southampton at lunchtime. The game ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw.

Here is a look at five things we learned from the match…

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Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

United start well again

United have enjoyed very strong first halves in their past two matches and it was the same story here.

Cristiano Ronaldo should have put United ahead after seven minutes but his shot was cleared off the line after rounding Fraser Forster.

Jadon Sancho could also have opened the scoring earlier than he did, although Southampton also pressed well and could have had greater reward before the interval.

United got into the habit of starting poorly under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but Rangnick seems to have kicked that habit – for now.

Sancho shines again

United looked threatening in that first half from many areas of the pitch but goalscorer Sancho was arguably the pick of the bunch.

He once again started on the left and looked confident and direct throughout. His goal was a deserved reward.

This is by far the best spell of his fledgling United so far and he is starting to consistently show the form which persuaded United to chase him for so long.

United pegged back again

Against Middlesbrough and Burnley, United were pegged back and the exact same thing happened again here.

It was almost the exact same timing as the equaliser at Turf Moor, within minutes of the second half starting.

Che Adams’ smart finish made the scores level again and showed that United had been unable to build on a good first half once again.

That is a trend which needs altering. Even in good performances under Solskjaer – at home to Leeds and Newcastle – United were clawed back to 1-1 in matches they were in control of and dominating.

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Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

United fail to recover from conceding – again

This really was a case of deja vu.

Rangnick spoke at his pre-match press conference of United losing shape and going away from the gameplan in recent games when it has gone to 1-1.

There was not much composure on show here either, as United lost their temperament and strategy in a game which either side could have won in the end.

It was another opportunity missed as form and momentum continues to drift away.

Manchester United Training Session
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images

Cavani is injured again

Ronaldo came into the side for Edinson Cavani, in the only change to the side from the midweek match at Burnley.

Rangnick said in his pre-match interview that the Uruguayan has picked up an injury to his groin in training on Friday and despite treatment up until the last moment, he could not be passed fit to play.

Cavani’s second United season has been blighted by injury and he has struggled to hit the same heights.

That said, he would have been a good option off the bench here, as the game became more and more even in the second half.

Will United fans get to see the best of Cavani again? It is to be hoped that he can get over his injury struggles on a regular basis before the end of the campaign.