Manchester United claimed their second victory of the 2024/25 Premier League season with a decisive 3-0 win over Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
Despite Southampton’s strong start and a missed penalty by Cameron Archer, United capitalized quickly after a crucial save from Andre Onana. The Reds scored twice in rapid succession, and after halftime, a red card for Southampton made the game more comfortable for United. Although Southampton showed promise, they have now lost all four of their games this season after their promotion from the Championship.
Player Ratings:
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Andre Onana – 8/10: Onana’s save from Archer’s penalty proved to be a turning point, and he was largely untroubled for the remainder of the match.
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RB: Noussair Mazraoui – 7/10: Southampton focused their attacks on the opposite flank, so Mazraoui had a quieter defensive outing. His composure in possession was notable.
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CB: Matthijs de Ligt – 9/10: De Ligt was a standout performer, scoring the opener with a well-placed header and maintaining a strong defensive presence despite a few lapses.
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CB: Lisandro Martinez – 8/10: Martinez offered a steady hand at the back and his precise passing helped United create early opportunities.
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LB: Diogo Dalot – 5/10: Dalot had a difficult first half, struggling against Dibling and giving away a penalty. Onana’s save was crucial in mitigating his errors.
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CM: Christian Eriksen – 7/10: Eriksen found his rhythm after a slow start, contributing significantly to United’s control of the game in the second half.
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CM: Kobbie Mainoo – 5/10: Mainoo had a rough outing, with several turnovers and difficulty moving the ball forward.
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RM: Amad Diallo – 7/10: Diallo was a constant threat on the right flank, although he could improve his versatility beyond his preferred right foot.
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AM: Bruno Fernandes – 7/10: Fernandes set up the first goal with a superb cross and was influential in United’s attacking play throughout the match.
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LM: Marcus Rashford – 7/10: Rashford made a much-needed impact by scoring his first goal of the season, offering a persistent attacking threat.
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ST: Joshua Zirkzee – 7/10: Zirkzee came close to scoring on a few occasions and made a positive impact with his efforts in the box.
Substitutes:
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Alejandro Garnacho (73′ for Rashford) – 7/10
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Manuel Ugarte (74′ for Eriksen) – 6/10
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Harry Maguire (74′ for Mazraoui) – 6/10
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Jonny Evans (77′ for Martinez) – 6/10
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Casemiro (87′ for De Ligt) – N/A