Manchester United took all three points at St. Mary’s on Saturday afternoon with Alejandro Garnacho adding some sparkle to the 3-0 final score with the final shot of the game.
There were structural problems once again in the first half as a change of direction from Russell Martin facilitated a remarkable Southampton improvement on the first three performances of the season. United were second best for much of the first half but the game turned on its head when Andre Onana denied Cameron Archer from the penalty spot.
Archer’s effort from 12 yards in the 33rd minute would prove to be Saints’ last of the contest as United asserted total control from that point on in what proved to be a regular win 3-0.
Here are two United players who can hold their heads high, alongside one who knows he needs to do better going forward…
Matthijs de Ligt
De Ligt endured a nightmare of an international break. A costly error against Germany saw him withdrawn at half-time. So the Dutchman may have been feeling a little unsure of himself as he lined up to face the Saints, but De Ligt looked with complete ease into the heart of the Man Utd defense
Of course, his aggressive nature means there will be times when he will win one-on-ones, but De Ligt was excellent when tasked with defending United’s box, and was forced to defend a lot in the early going 30 minutes He was very strong when dueling on the ground and dominant in the air. Archer was tamed throughout.
De Ligt also made an excellent goal-line clearance that surely prevented an early Southampton goal, but the highlight of his afternoon was his header past Aaron Ramsdale that give the leadership to the visitors.
Lisandro Martinez
Martinez was not as busy as De Ligt in the opening 30 minutes, with the Argentine’s impact perhaps more subtle. It was the centre-back who sparked United’s brilliant sequences on the ball with some excellent line-splitting passes, and his quality in possession was on display throughout.
Defensively, MartÃnez was more active in the second half and did a good job keeping the Saints from getting close to Onana’s goal. He timed his challenges superbly, and the centre-back finished the competition with a 100% success rate.
Diogo Dalot
Dalot ended the game on a bright note as he set up United’s third, but this was not a good start for the versatile winger.
Tyler Dibling, 18, had his way with Dalot in the opening period. The winger fooled the full-back on several occasions, using his body effectively to roll Dalot. It was Dibling’s change of pace that often did for the Portugal international, with Dalot diving awkwardly to give away a penalty.
Things picked up after the break, but another first-half display like this against better opposition could leave United reeling.
