Key points
- Full-time: Southampton 0-3 Manchester United View post
- 90' 0-3 GOAAAAL! Garnacho! View post
- 78' 0-2 - Red card for Southampton's Stephens View post
- Half-time: Southampton 0-2 Manchester United View post
- 40' 0-2 GOAAAAAAL! Rashford! View post
- 35' 0-1 - GOAAAAL! United lead! View post
- 32' 0-0 - PENALTY SAVED! View post
- 30' 0-0 - Penalty Southampton View post
- United starting XI confirmed View post
Manchester United are back to winning ways after overcoming a tough start to defeat Southampton 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been a tough start to the 2024/25 Premier League season for Manchester United as their narrow victory over Fulham was followed up with defeats to Brighton and Liverpool.
It meant that, despite it being so early in the campaign, the trip to newly promoted Southampton already felt like a must-win game for Erik ten Hag.
United flirted with disaster in an opening half an hour in which they were pressured hard by Saints, who won a penalty when Diogo Dalot hacked down Tyler Dibling.
However, Andre Onana saved the spot-kick after a long wait and that was the turning point United needed. Moments later Matthijs de Ligt nodded in the opener.
Marcus Rashford doubled the lead before the break with his first United goal since March and put United in cruise control.
The second half was largely uneventful until Jack Stephens was sent off for a high tackle on Alejandro Garnacho late on and the Argentine fired in a third just before the final whistle.
You can see how the game unfolded in UIF’s LIVE blog below.
Full-time: Southampton 0-3 Manchester United
Garnacho’s late strike is basically the last kick of the game. United flirted with disaster in a tough opening half an hour but Onana’s penalty save was the turning point, with first-half goals from De Ligt and Rashford setting United on the path to a comfortable win.
[Link]90′ 0-3 GOAAAAL! Garnacho!
United end the game ins style with a well-worked goal! Dalot is played in down the right, he pulls it back to Garnacho who lofts it into the top corner. It’s been a non-event second half but United get a third goal their control has deserved.
[Link]90′ 0-2 – Now Maguire is linking…
After challenging for a ball at a corner, Maguire is now moving gingerly and looks to be in some discomfort. Fingers crossed he’s okay.
[Link]90′ 0-2 – It should be three!
Amad again finds his way into the box and then Mainoo does a clever pass to Zirkzee but the Dutchman sees his shot blocked. Could have done better.
89′ 0-2 – Ugarte looking good
Ugarte has won the ball back a couple of times with some intense tackling. A nice start for him.
[Link]85′ 0-2 – De Ligt goes off
Casemiro comes on at centre-back for De Ligt. Reports suggest it’s only cramp for the Dutchman.
[Link]84′ 0-2 – Another injury problem?
De Ligt has signalled that he has to go off and that’s bad news given Martinez also suffered a knock. He’s carrying on for now and hopefully he’s okay.
[Link]78′ 0-2 – Red card for Southampton’s Stephens
Stephens slides in to take out the advancing Garnacho and catches him on the knee, a deserved red card.
Manager Russell Martin has also been booked for his complaints, with Harwood-Bellis coming on for Fernandes at the back.
76′ 0-2 – Fourth United change
Martinez looks to be carrying a knock and is taken off for Evans.
[Link]74′ 0-2 – Maguire straight into the book
Maguire is shown a card for nudging the ball away and stopping the restart, the same thing Rice was sent off for before the break.
[Link]72′ 0-2 – Triple United change
Garnacho, Ugarte and Maguire come on for Rashford, Eriksen and Mazraoui.
[Link]70′ 0-2 – Ugarte coming on for his debut
Ugarte and Maguire are getting ready, with not much happening on the pitch.
[Link]61′ 0-2 – Quadruple Saints subs
Archer is off for Stewart, Ugochukwu for Cornet, Brereton Diaz for Lallana and Dibling for Fraser.
That took ages and was quite confusing. Modern football, eh?
[Link]59′ 0-2 – Audacious Rashford effort
You can tell Rashford is getting his confidence back as he’s just had a shot some 30 yards out and forced Ramsdale to tip it over the bar.
[Link]57′ 0-2 – United are comfortable
United are keeping possession and controlling this game, with Southampton seemingly losing their spark from the first half.
Zirkzee has shown some nice touches in attacking areas and Amad has been dangerous every time he moves forward.
[Link]51′ 0-2 – Rashford looks hungry
Rashford is on the hunt for more goals as he hones in on goal but his effort is deflected over and the corner comes to nothing.
[Link]48′ 0-2 – Strong United start
United look full of confidence and Amad is again in the heart of the attack as he slides through Mazraoui, who can only hit the side netting from a tight angle.
[Link]Half-time: Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
United have some how come out of a half in which they were second best for the vast majority comfortably ahead.
Saints knocked the ball around really well and pinned United back, earning the perfect chance to go ahead when Dalot hacked down the impressive Dibling in the box.
Onana saved Archer’s penalty and that was the turning point, with De Ligt heading United ahead moments later.
Rashford bagged his first United goal since March to double the lead and suddenly United are sitting pretty.
43′ 0-2 – It’s nearly three!
From struggling for half an hour, United are now in complete control and are unlucky not to have three. Dalot nudges the ball to De Ligt and if not for the sprawling Ramsdale the centre-backs shot would have gone in.
[Link]40′ 0-2 GOAAAAAAL! Rashford!
Rashford is up and running and it’s a lovely finish. From another corner, Rashford gets the ball on the edge of the box, cuts inside and manages to squirm it in the bottom corner through a forest of legs. A fine way to get back among the goals.
39′ 0-1 – Rashford denied
Rashford races through on goal but Ramsdale denies his effort from a tight angle.
[Link]35′ 0-1 – GOAAAAL! United lead!
De Ligt scores! From near-disaster to the lead, Fernandes delivers a superb cross into the box after a short corner, De Ligt meets it at the back post and powers his header home!
34′ 0-0 – Zirkzee close again
United move the ball up the field quickly and Rashford tees up Zirkzee who sees his low shot tipped around the post. It was bound for the bottom corner.
[Link]32′ 0-0 – PENALTY SAVED!
Archer’s spot kick is poor and Onana saves it and catches the rebound header.
30′ 0-0 – Penalty Southampton
Dibling has had Dalot on toast all afternoon and as he goes past him again the full-back hacks him down with a desperate, needless lunge. The ref gives a penalty and it is confirmed to be in the box.
27′ 0-0 – Another Saints chance
Ugochukwu finds space at a set piece and has a free header but can’t keep his effort down. Another chance and you would not be surprised if the home side take the lead.
[Link]25′ 0-0 – A yellow for Mainoo
Mainoo handles the ball after falling over a tough challenge but a foul hadn’t been given and he’s rightly punished. Southampton are playing through United, who can hardly string a pass together, with ease.
[Link]22′ 0-0 – Crucial De Ligt clearance
United’s defence are letting more dangerous crosses come into the box, this time Dalot miscommunicating with the others, and De Ligt had to clear the latest in the nick of time to take the ball off the toe of Brereton Diaz.
[Link]19′ 0-0 – End-to-end stuff
Walker-Peters sends De Ligt to the cleaners with a lovely shimmy but can’t pick out a red shirt. United go up the other end as Amad finds Fernandes with a lovely ball but the captain can’t get a shot on target as he’s hounded by defenders.
[Link]16′ 0-0 – Some good United play at last
United follow up the Zirkzee chance with some nice play through midfield and a passing move ends with Dalot winning a corner. It comes out to Mazraoui but his effort is straight at Ramsdale.
[Link]14′ 0-0 – A great chance for Zirkzee
United finally get in the opposition box as Amad dribbles in, he gives it to Eriksen who slips a ball to Zirkzee. The Dutchman can only get a toe on the ball and it’s nearly enough to get it in but Ramsdale can readjust to make the save. A better finish might have got the opener there.
[Link]11′ 0-0 – United feeling the pressure
Southampton are committing men forward and United are unable to play past the press, sloppily giving possession back repeatedly. Ten Hag’s side look rattled and need to wrestle some control.
[Link]9′ 0-0 – Saints pushing on
The crowd has got behind the home side since that chance and Southampton are building some momentum, moving the ball forward with nice, short passing. Downes was nearly just played through on goal and you sense another chance is coming.
[Link]6′ 0-0 – Onana called into action
Youngster Dibling gets through Dalot and advances on goal before bending a shot to the far corner, which Onana dives across to save. The first chance goes to Saints, who got through far too easily.
[Link]1′ 0-0 – A lively start
United are looking to get the ball down and take the game to Saints, with Dalot and Rashford looking positive down the left. An upbeat start but no chances yet.
[Link]How the defence lines up
Dalot was spotted lined up on the left during the pre-match warm-up, so it looks like he will continue at left-back, with Mazraoui on the right.
Ugarte made to wait for his debut
Ten Hag has opted to start Eriksen instead of Ugarte in midfield, which feels like a decision that could backfire.
The 32-year-old Dane remains good on the ball but has lost the gas tank to play a full game and has never had the defensive capabilities to partner Mainoo.
Perhaps the manager is banking on Southampton not offering much in midfield, but the Saints will look to press United high and play nice football and United are in no position to be underestimating any opponent.
It’s a risk that could backfire massively.
United starting XI confirmed
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; ; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Maguire, Casemiro, Collyer, Ugarte, Antony, Garnacho, Wheatley.
[Link]Deco on De Jong
United are always touted with an interest in Frenkie de Jong and Barcelona director Deco has commented on his contract status at the Camp Nou.
A debut for Ugarte?
Given Mount is sidelined and Casemiro was terrible in the defeat to Liverpool, deadline day signing Ugarte could be thrown straight into the starting XI today.
Speaking on his availability ahead of the game, Ten Hag said: “Manuel Ugarte, we all have seen he played for Uruguay, he returned this afternoon, he was the only player who returned today, all the others returned yesterday so he is available for this game.”
Good morning!
Welcome to UIF’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United’s must-win trip to Southampton.
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