Image Source. | Licence Details.
Manchester United went into this game on the back of disappointing performances that has seen them drop points and also moved down to a second place, relinquishing that top spot to Manchester City who still has a game at hand.
Southampton on the other hand had injuries to contend with. For their starting lineup against United, they had 9 players out injured and 2 academy players drafted in.
These two teams in desperate need for a result met and only one walked away with confidence boost while leaving the other team in shatters. Just a few weeks ago we were discussing United having a resurgent season only to have things quietened a bit but now, they hit Southampton for 9!!!
The game had barely started when under 1 minute, precisely 79 seconds, Alex Jankewitz who was making his first-ever league start was shown a red card for a lounge at Scott McTominay. McTominay was lucky to avoid any serious injuries save a bruised thigh. It could have been worse. That was the first undoing for Southampton on the night. They started playing with 10 men against a United team desperate for a result.
In the 4th minute, Rashford broke. He cut in, cuts back too and tried to find Fernandes but the effort was cut out. He should have hit it himself, maybe he would have had a better chance.
In the 7th minute, Fred went for goal with an attempt of his own but missed. And just 8 minutes after, Scott McTominay had a ball in which Bednarek headed clear. This game turned out to be a bad experience for Bednarek and it would be the one he wouldn't want to relive for long. He would want to banish the ghost of it.
In the 16th minute, Rashford had a deflected strike saved. It was not the cleanest of strikes anyway. Southampton sat back and what more could be expected of them after being a goal down so early in the game. They relied heavily on the counter-attack and in the 17th minute, Adams found Ward Prowse who strikes his effort but it was marginally wide.
The first goal for United came in the 18th minute when Lindelof found Rashford with a brilliant long lofted pass. Rashford wasted no time and passed it to Shaw, whose brilliant ball in Aaron Wan Bissaka was able to connect with. He beats Ings to it and guided the ball home. 1-0.
That was Aaron's second senior goal. The first one came in October, that thunderous strike he had against the Toons.
A minute after, Southampton tried to respond when James Ward Prowse's direct corner almost dipped in. De Gea was able to punch it for another corner. He was alert to it else it would have been an equalizer for the Saints.
United wanted to kill any hope for a comeback when Rashford made it too in a matter of minutes. It was his first goal in 7 games for United. A Brilliant ball from Mason Greenwood found Rashford after Shaw initiated the pass and all Rashford did was to guide it home. Brilliant.
United almost gave Southampton a lifeline when Cavani gave a foul away while trying to clear a goal threat. Ward Prowse stepped up to take the freekick in his territory but De Gea made a good save for a corner kick.
In the 31st minute, United almost added to their 2 goals cushion when Rashford found Bruno Fernandes at the edge of the box. He tried a curling effort but it got saved for a corner kick but the third goal wasn't to be denied for long when Rashford's good ball in was put into the back of the net by Bednarek while trying to get the ball out. Own goal to make the third one on the night for United.
United players were in the mood and the 38th minute, Fernandes' flick found Bissaka, who ran into the box, then released a pass but Cavani didn't connect with it but a minute after, Edison Cavani got his first Old Trafford goal with another brilliant assist by Luke Shaw. Like Shaw's perfect ball in found Cavani who did well to adjust his head. He got the power and the direction right and the ball went past the goalkeeper to the other end of the post. 4-0 on the night and it was a classy goal.
In the 42nd minute, United thought they had a Penalty when Cavani was fouled by Ramsey. The referee pointed to the penalty spot but after a Var check, it was noticed to be on the line. A freekick was given instead which Fernandes took but he couldn't get it past the wall.
Half time came and United already ran riot by going 4 goals up on the night leaving Southampton with pride to play for.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already knew the game had been won and he took out Shaw and Cavani (a minor injury due to the foul by Ramsey and he didn't want to risk him) and brought in Martial with Van De Beek. Van De Beek has struggled for form and game time this season already after coming from Ajax and what better time to give him a game-time than when his team has gone 4 goals up with little or no pressure.
Substitute, Anthony Martial almost added a fifth in the 51st minute and Southampton also thought they had pulled one back when Adam scored. It was a lovely goal but VAR ruled it off for offside. It was a tiny margin but then, offside was given.
Martial's moment came in the 69th minute when Fernandes found him. Martial brilliantly took the ball down and smashed it into the roof of the net. It was a brilliant goal from a hungry player.
It has been a while we have seen this United side run riot, let alone score this much in a match since 2012 when they played against Wolverhampton Wanderers away and won with 5-0.
United wasn't done on the night when Southampton's goalkeeper thought the threat has been neutralized in the 71st minute until McTominay's long-range effort found the back of the net. The goalkeeper didn't see it coming. He smashed it low and hard. 6-0.
Adams had another wonderful chance just 2 minutes after in the box. He wasted that brilliant chance and we can pass it up for tired legs. It should have been an easy goal and it left the coach dejected.
United didn't want to show mercy in any way and with goal difference in mind, they tried to score as many goals as they can. In the 74th minute, Fred found Martial who tried to dink his effort but it was just marginally wide.
It went from bad to worse for Southampton when Bednarek tripped Martial in the box. He was the last man, denied a goal-scoring opportunity and the referee had no choice than to send him off in the 83rd minute.
Fernandez stepped up and took the penalty in the 87th minute after lengthy deliberation and he scored. 7-0 and that was 7 different scorers on the night.
Martial for his double and the only one to get a double on the night when Wan Bissaka found him in the 91st minute and Martial did the rest by burying his chance to make it 8-0. With a record to match as the biggest win ever in the Premier League stood at 9-0, United got motivated and matched that record when Greenwood found Fernandes whose headed pass found Daniel James in the 93rd minute and he tapped home.
The rout has been completed leaving Southampton in a terrible place. Rashford also overtakes United's legend, Eric Cantona for the most goals in a United shirt; 83 goals.
It was a forgettable night for the Saints but never a night to forget for the United players, staff and fans.
This Post First Appeared Here.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
Ohk