Southampton 0-3 Man United: Player ratings as De Ligt, Rashford and Garnacho sink 10-men Saints

Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium. Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford scored apiece in the first half as the Saints looked hapless on the evening, even getting reduced to 10 men following Jack Stephens’ red card in the 79th minute.

Following back-to-back losses to Brighton and Liverpool, which had pushed the side below the mid-table, the pressure was already building on manager Erik ten Hag, who managed to survive in the job despite overseeing their worst-ever season in the competition last season. However, this result will go a long way in easing some of that pressure.

The Red Devils came flying out of the blocks, pushing the Saints on the backfoot with his frightening attacking intent. It was as if they wanted to get the job done within the first 45 minutes, and they did exactly that. De Ligt opened the scoring in the 35th minute by powering a header home, before Rashford doubled their advantage soon with his first goal of the season.

Substitute Garnacho then added gloss to the score with a third, deep in stoppage time. The victory takes United back within the top 10 in Premier League standings, with six points in four games, whereas Southampton remained second from bottom in the table with a fourth consecutive loss and yet to get a point across the board. Here are the Southampton vs Man United Player Ratings:

Southampton Player Ratings vs Man United

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale – 6.5

With Manchester United throwing the kitchen sink, Ramsdale came under plenty of pressure but held to fort well to make six saves in the first half alone, although he was still beaten twice during that period. The Saints custodian continued his stoic display even after the break to prevent this from being a blowout.

Defenders

Yukinari Sugawara – 7

With three clearances, two tackles and one interception, Sugawara had a great match for the Saints, while also competing hard for the ball as the Japanese star won four of his five attempted ground duels. He even laid two key passes, a testament to his attacking impact.

Jack Stephens – 5

He was struggling to exert himself in the game as Manchester United had no issues drifting past him. Stephens was found out of position a few times and it all went from bad to worse when he was sent off. He caught Garnacho with an ill-timed sliding tackle, earning a straight red from the referee.

Jan Bednarek – 7.5

The Polish defender made six clearances, blocked three shots and made two interceptions to deliver a defensive masterclass that prevented Manchester United from running away with the game in the first half itself. He’s perhaps the only Southampton player who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

Kyle Walker-Peters – 7.5

Highly proactive and industrious, Walker-Peters won seven ground duels to demonstrate his ball-winning capability. He looked to intercept Manchester United’s movements by jumping to make a tackle to toe the ball away, while also completing over 90% of his passes.

Midfielders

Flynn Downes – 6

Downes was soundly beaten in his duels, winning only two from nine, but passed the ball around accurately to register 98% success. He made two clearances, four interceptions, and two tackles, which highlight the player’s brilliant work ethic on the day.

Lesley Ugochukwu – 5.5

The midfielder lacked the pace on the night and was left trailing the Manchester United players most of the time. But he laid one key pass and completed 91% of his passes. A little more calm nerves from him would’ve helped here.

Forwards

Tyler Dibling – 6

Dibling’s ball-winning capability was on full display here, as he won five of his nine ground duels, and attempted a shot on target against Manchester United. Too bad that Onana had no issues saving it. His speed, however, was a cause for concern, with United fouling him several times.

Mateus Fernandes – 6

A non-factor for most of the game as Fernandes struggled to bring his A-1 game today. He was hesitant to even get involved off the ball, and his overall contributions were limited too.

Ben Brereton – 5

He tried to win the ball back but Manchester United had no problem dispelling his threats, as Brereton won just once from his seven attempted ground duels. He also dribbled part four times, which is a reflection of his lack of speed.

Cameron Archer – 4

What a horrid display from the Southampton hitman, who crucially missed a penalty for them in the first half. He had the chance to put the Saints in front after 33 minutes into the kick-off, but Andre Onana guessed the right way and saved it. Just minutes later, United pulled in front.

Substitutes

Ross Stewart – 6

He came in for the ineffective Archer but hardly proved to be a better bet, as Stewart himself got barely involved in the proceedings.

Adam Lallana – 6

The former Liverpool star was brought in as Southampton sought to bring in some experience into their midfield but Lallana was far from his best on the day.

Ryan Fraser – 6.5

A couple of good passes from Fraser, who also made some good runs off the ball to impede United’s movements, but the results were a mixed bag.

Maxwel Cornet – 6.5

He made a few tackles and slick passes, but overall, lacked the bite to make a genuine impact. Cornet was also booked for a challenge.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis – 5

He was brought on to merely see the game off as United had the game in the bag by then.

Manager

Russell Martin – 4

Having guided Southampton back into the Premier League, it’s fast becoming a nightmare for him, with Southampton losing all four games in the Premier League so far and emerging as early favorites for relegation. If things don’t improve sooner rather than later, Martin may not last in the job.

Also More: Manchester United vs Liverpool Player Ratings: Diaz and Salah Shine, Casemiro Disappoints

Man United Player Ratings vs Southampton

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana – 7

The Manchester United custodian wasn’t tested enough but came up trumps whenever Southampton posed a threat. He was vigilant throughout and commanded his penalty area with authority. More importantly, he guessed Archer’s penalty the right way and kept it out to prevent their hosts from going in front. A well-deserved clean sheet.

Defenders

Noussair Mazraoui – 7.5

The Moroccan displayed his precocious dribbling skills, to which Southampton had no answer. He was also clinical at regaining possession, and even tested the Saint’s defense at the other end with a few shots, although none could find the back of the net today.

Matthijs de Ligt – 8

The Dutchman showed excellent vision to make a handful of vital clearances during the game but also made a telling impact at the other end of the field, as De Ligt fired his side in front just after the half-hour mark. He rose the highest to meet with Fernandes’ cross and powered home a header for 1-0.

Lisandro Martinez – 7

Martinez displayed exemplary defensive nous on the day with his positional awareness, immaculate vision, and willingness to jump in and clear any incoming danger. He showed colors of his self that played a crucial role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.

Diogo Dalot – 6.5

Fast, industrious, and effervescent, Dalot made his presence felt at both ends of the field. His passing accuracy was top-notch too, registering over 90% completion rate. However, one aspect of his game that didn’t come through was duels, as Dalot came a cropper more than half the occasion.

Midfielders

Christian Eriksen – 7

The Danish maestro was back to his creative best, conjuring up chances for his attacking cohorts. He even played a big part in Manchester United’s opening goal by taking the short corner to Fernandes, who then crossed it for De Ligt.

Kobbie Mainoo – 7

The 19-year-old timed his tackles to perfection, becoming a thorn in Southampton’s flesh, while also playing a key role in winning back possession. He was strong in the air too, but misplaced a couple of passes.

Forwards

Amad Diallo – 7.5

With six key passes laid, Diallo had a field day against their hosts, demonstrating his creative wizardry by combining speed with extraordinary skill to twist the Saint’s defense inside out. He also set up Rashford for their second, bagging an assist.

Bruno Fernandes – 7.5

The Portuguese forward sent in a perfectly weighted cross for De Ligt to power home, bagging yet another assist, but his own attempts at goal were wayward, with three of them going off-target too. He struggled in duels too.

Marcus Rashford – 8

Coming into the fixture having received plenty of flak for his earlier displays, Rashford seemed like a man set out to prove himself and bagged his first league goal of the season towards the end of the opening stanza. Could this be the start of something special for the beleaguered striker?

Joshua Zirkzee – 5.5

The Dutchman was lacking his attacking boots yet again, as both his efforts on target were saved. But kudos to testing the Saint’s defense, though, having looked anemic in his last couple of games.

Substitutes

Alejandro Garnacho – 8

The Spaniard slotted one home deep in stoppage time to make it 3-0 and add gloss to the scoreline.

Manuel Ugarte – 6

He completed all his passes and made a few attempts to regain possession too.

Harry Maguire – 6

The England international is still not at his usual best, even going ahead of his own skies during a tackle that earned him a yellow.

Jonny Evans – 6

Very minimal involvement from Evans, who couldn’t cope with the pace and intensity of the game, and even appeared to slow their tempo down a few times.

Casemiro – 7

The Brazilian maestro played a part in their third goal by expertly feeding Dalot in behind the Saint’s defense.

Manager

Erik ten Hag – 7

Ten Hag knows all too well that another torrid run in the league won’t be tolerated, as the former Ajax coach has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head right now. And just when the pressure was building up again, he delivered, bringing out his side’s best performance so far.

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