Manchester United were clinical in their 3-0 win at Southampton on Saturday as Erik ten Hag’s side showed a ruthless edge.
Southampton were the better team early on but passed up a glorious chance to take the lead as Cameron Archer’s poor penalty kick was saved by Andre Onana.
That sparked United into life as the excellent Matthijs de Ligt nodded home their first, and his first goal for United, and Marcus Rashford then ended his long drought with a low curler. United managed the game superbly after taking the lead and Southampton had their captain Jack Stephens sent off late on and then Alejandro Garnacho scored with the last kick of the game to rub further salt into their wounds.
With the win United have now picked up six points from their first four games, while Southampton have lost all four of their games back in the Premier League.
De Ligt, Ajax old boys repay faith as Ten Hag keeps things familiar
Four of United’s back five who started against Southampton played for Erik ten Hag at Ajax and although they struggled early on to adapt to Saints’ fluid, high-energy approach, the familiar players ETH has signed to work with him again came up big when he needed them most. Andre Onana saved a penalty kick. Matthijs de Ligt made a crucial block at 0-0, then scored to make it 1-0 and was superb defensively as he and Lisandro Martinez are building a fine partnership. Noussair Mazraoui looks calm and collected on the ball. United were ruthless when chances cropped up and after riding their luck early they never let their grasp of this game go once they were ahead. There will be much tougher tests than this to come this season but if you plug in Luke Shaw at left back, this United back five looks solid and the familiarity they have with one another will hold them in good stead throughout the ups and downs this season. The only thing United will be hoping now is that their defensive injuries don’t hit again as De Ligt, Martinez and Mazraoui were all taken off as a precaution.
Southampton vs Manchester United player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see United’s defensive unit led them to this victory. Onana with the penalty save and De Ligt with the goal and an overall commanding display.
What’s next?
Southampton head to Everton in the League Cup on Tuesday, then host Ipswich Town next Saturday (Sept. 21) in a massive game. Manchester United head to Barnsley in the League Cup on Tuesday, then travel to Crystal Palace next Saturday.
How to watch Southampton vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Online via NBC.com
Southampton vs Manchester United final score: 0-3
De Ligt 35', Rashford 41', Garnacho 96'
Southampton vs Manchester United live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Alejandro Garnacho slams home - Southampton 0-3 Manchester United
Dalot does superbly to cut the ball back and Garnacho slams home at the near post to make it 3-0 with the last kick of the game.
Casemiro on for De Ligt
De Ligt went down with a bit of cramp and is now off with Casemiro on at center back.
Red card for Jack Stephens
Cynical foul from Jack Stephens to stop Alejandro Garnacho on the counter and he’s given a red card. The replays don’t look pretty. He flicks Garnacho’s knee and it’s a high challenge. There isn’t much contact but it’s all about the intent from Stephens.
Martinez is off with Evans coming on
Lisandro Martinez is off after looking like he was struggling with injury. His last act is to make a brilliant sliding tackle to stop a promising Southampton counter. Martinez was excellent today and it looks like he’s off as a precaution. Jonny Evans is on at left back.
Ugarte, Garnacho, Maguire on for United
Triple sub for Manchester United as new signing Manuel Ugarte comes on for his debut, while Alejandro Garnacho and Harry Maguire are also on. Eriksen, Mazraoui and Rashford are off. Martinez has gone to left back and Dalot is at right back now. 20 minutes to go and United are cruising. Maguire is booked just a few seconds after coming on for kicking the ball away.
Quadruple sub for Southampton
Lallana, Fraser, Cornet and Stewart are on for Archer, Brereton Diaz, Dibling and Ugochukwu. Southampton needed more energy and these subs have 30 minutes to make an impact.
United pushing hard for a third
It has been all Manchester United in the second half so far with Amad Diallo so dangerous and having shots blocked. Marcus Rashford unleashed a dipping shot from distance which Ramsdale did well to push over. Southampton totally lacking confidence now.
Harsh on Saints as United smell blood
If Southampton keep playing like they did in first 35 minutes they’ll get plenty of points this season. Making better decisions in the final action at both ends, which is the hardest thing to do consistently in football, is obviously costing Saints big time so far this season. They have been punished ruthlessly for small defensive errors by United and Aaron Ramsdale has made some top saves to keep the score down as they unravelled after that second goal went in. Big 10 minutes after the break for Saints, who need to settle back down. If they get one goal back they can make a game of this. But United are now set up to counter and they love to do that.
Half time: Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
That scoreline does not tell the story of the first half, at all, but United have pounced to finish two chances from corner kicks and Southampton were made to pay for their missed penalty kick at a crucial stage in the game. In the space of eight minutes Saints missed a penalty kick at 0-0 and then they were 2-0 down. Pretty much job done for United. Erik ten Hag looks delighted.
Rashford’s curler squirms in - Southampton 0-2 Man United
A corner finds its way to the edge of the box and Rashford curls a low shot towards the bottom corner which just squirms in. His drought is over and he looks so relieved. Clinical from United who have turned the game around so quickly.
De Ligt heads home for Man United - Southampton 0-1 Man United
A brilliant cross from Bruno Fernandes after a short corner finds De Ligt and he heads home into the far corner. What a response from United after giving away that penalty kick.
Archer’s penalty kick is saved by Onana
Andre Onana saves Cameron Archer’s penalty kick! Archer took so long to take that penalty and didn’t look confident. Poor spot kick and Manchester United have been let off the hook. Southampton have been really good in this first half but don’t take that huge opportunity.
ONANA TO THE RESCUE. 🧤
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 14, 2024
Man United's goalkeeper comes up with a huge penalty stop to keep it scoreless against Southampton!
📺 USA Network | #SOUMUN pic.twitter.com/FCyDGbPLp0
Penalty to Southampton!
Tyler Dibling, just 18 years old, has given Dalot a torrid time so far and the Portuguese defender lunges in and takes out Dibling in the box. Clear penalty kick.
Ugochukwu heads over from six yards out
A free kick from the right is whipped in and Ugochukwu gets up well but puts his header over the bar. He should be hitting the target there. Dibling is cause United, and particularly Dalot, lots of problems.
Sugawara almost curls one in
Yukinari Sugawara makes the most of a defensive mix-up and curls a shot towards the far post which De Ligt does well to clear as it looked like it was going in. Crucial intervention from the Dutch defender but huge gaps in the United defense there. Saints are overloading United down their left and it is working a treat.
Big chance for Man United
Eriksen’s ball into the box finds Zirkzee and he pokes it towards goal but Ramsdale saves from close range and Sugawara clears. Ramsdale’s first home game as a Saints player and he celebrates the save, and rightly so. First glimpse at goal for Man United.
So close for teenager Tyler Dibling!
18-year-old Tyler Dibling, on his first Premier League start, drives forward from the left and curls a beauty towards the far corner which Andre Onana gets a hand to. What a start for Dibling and that is a top save. The home fans are lauding Dibling as ‘one of our own’ as he’s been at the club since the age of eight. That effort has got the home crowd going.
We are underway at St Mary’s with Saints starting well
It’s still early days on a beautiful sunny day on England’s South Coast but Southampton have started well. They’re pressing United in midfield and the Red Devils are yet to settle.
What can we expect from Man United today?
Our studio team focus on what we should expect from Manchester United, in what is a really big game for them after two-straight defeats to Brighton and Liverpool.
Ahead of Southampton v. Man United, Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle and Tim Howard preview what to expect from the Red Devils on the South Coast. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/VRwUqoSH4J
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 14, 2024
Ramsdale ready to cause an upset
Southampton’s new goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was their marquee signing this summer and the England international, who was left out of their squads for this international break, is respectful of Man United’s quality but believes Saints can cause an upset if they can execute their plan on how to cause the Red Devils problems. Ramsdale will be key today if Southampton are going to get anything.
"Great to come back stronger. Chumbawumba." 🤣
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 14, 2024
Aaron Ramsdale talks bouncing back after Arsenal and bonding with new teammates 🤝
🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 | @petercrouch
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nro6LtSbqP
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Sugawara, Bednarek, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Downes, Ugochukwu; Dibling, M. Fernandes, Brereton Diaz; Archer
Subs: McCarthy, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Aribo, Lallana, Armstrong, Cornet, Fraser, Stewart
Manchester United lineup
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Mainoo; Diallo, B. Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
Subs: Bayindir, Maguire, Evans, Collyer, Casemiro, Ugarte, Garnacho, Antony, Wheatley
Southampton focus, team news
Cameron Archer bagged a brace at Cardiff City and intriguing import Mateus Fernandes scored in the cup tie. Add that to the beautiful goal scored by Yukinari Sugawara at Brentford, and coach Russell Martin will hope his attack is ready to feast on Premier League opposition.
OUT: Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle)
Manchester United focus, team news
The Red Devils are still missing a number of players and might be without captain Bruno Fernandes, the key to just about anything they’ve done well offensively over the past couple of seasons. That would put more weight on new signing Joshua Zirkzee and holders Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo.
OUT: Victor Lindelof (undisclosed), Luke Shaw (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Mason Mount (undisclosed)
Southampton vs Manchester United prediction
No Manchester United performance is guaranteed, but this does not feel like the sort of fixture that sets off alarm bells. If the Red Devils were to fall at St. Mary’s, panic stations would be open for business at Old Trafford. They should have enough to get by. Southampton 0-2 Manchester United. Knock this down to 1-0 if Fernandes can’t go.
