Manchester United failed to follow up the opening weekend victory over Leeds with another three points.
Sunday’s match with Southampton ended with a 1-1 draw, with United lacking a clinical edge in front of goal.
United lost control of the game for spells at the end of both halves after dominating each of them early on.
There was a stretch after the equaliser that the second goal seemed inevitable, and then United faded.
Expected Goals
Remarkably, United had more ‘Expected Goals’ against Southampton than in the performance against Leeds.
In the season opener at Old Trafford, United’s Expected Goals tally was 1.47 based on the quality of chances created.
Against Southampton, United’s Expected Goals figure was 1.53, per FotMob.
United scored five against Leeds and just one against Southampton.
This showed how United were simply far more clinical against Leeds, and while there were stretches against Southampton where we were outplayed, we created enough quality chances to win the game.
Mason Greenwood missed a free header inside the box after his equaliser which would have won the game.
Paul Pogba also headed over from a corner in the first half, while Anthony Martial had a header cleared off the line which he really should have done better with.
Outstanding versus Leeds
This also serves to highlight just how outstanding and ruthless United were in the 5-1 win over Leeds.
United were clinical and one of the differences in the two games was that three chances fell to Bruno Fernandes, and he netted all three.
Fernandes did not have a clear cut opportunity against Southampton to take advantage of, with most of United’s best chances coming from crosses and set pieces.
This was a game Edinson Cavani flourished in last season, and likely would have made the difference in this time had he been fit to play.
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