After opening their Premier League account with a well-known victory at Outdated Trafford earlier within the week, Manchester United managed to maintain up that momentum on Saturday lunchtime.
Edging previous bitter rivals Liverpool 5 days in the past as they claimed a 2-1 win on residence soil, Erik ten Hag’s facet made it back-to-back victories towards Southampton right here.
Placing in a largely rugged show on the south coast, the Purple Devils finally left St. Mary’s with a 1-0 win as Bruno Fernandes produced a elegant end 10 minutes after the restart.
Pushing their approach into the top-half of the Premier League desk, what did we be taught from an satisfying showdown on Saturday lunchtime?
Ten Hag’s strategy is paying off
Opening the 2022/23 marketing campaign and ten Hag’s tenure with back-to-back defeats towards Brighton and Brentford, it was no secret that Manchester United discovered themselves within the midst of a Premier League nightmare.
Nevertheless, surprising former Premier League champions Liverpool on Monday night time as they snatched a stellar 2-1 victory at Outdated Trafford, the ex-Ajax boss has made it clear that stability is vital.
As soon as once more making the choice to go away each Harry Maguire and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, it seems that the English giants are edging in the best course.
Placing in a gritty show at St. Mary’s, ten Hag has shortly gained a repute for his no-nonsense lifestyle in Manchester – one thing that United followers have been crying out for.
Making every of his gamers report for added coaching following their woeful 4-0 drumming by the hands of Brentford on August thirteenth, the 52-year-old is determined to completely implement his philosophy.
Nonetheless hoping to finish a deal for Ajax’s younger talisman Antony, it seems that United lastly have one thing to cheer about.
United can do it away from Outdated Trafford
Final seen away from Outdated Trafford earlier within the month when struggling that notorious 4-0 defeat towards Brentford, ten Hag would have been greater than conscious of United’s public struggles on the highway.
Ultimately scrapping their option to a top-six end previous to the summer time break, the previous Premier League champions had virtually change into recognized for his or her prolonged issues outdoors of Manchester.
Signing off the 2021/22 marketing campaign with a 1-0 loss away at Crystal Palace on Could twenty second, United had remarkably misplaced every of their final seven appearances away from Outdated Trafford previous to Saturday’s showdown.
With their 1-0 victory right here drawing a line underneath the worst away run within the membership’s historical past, the ex-Ajax boss shall be determined to show that this was not only a minor enhance.
With it trying just like the duo of Raphael Varane and summer time arrival Lisandro Martínez have cemented their spot as ten Hag’s primary partnership, United shall be subsequent seen on Thursday after they journey to Leicester.
Southampton in search of stability at St. Mary’s
Opening the 2022/23 marketing campaign with a routine 4-1 defeat away at Tottenham, many had been anticipating what could possibly be one other powerful season for Southampton.
Nevertheless, mounting a stellar comeback away at Leicester final weekend as they snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory, some in Ralph Hasenhüttl’s camp might need been smelling the prospect to spring an upset right here.
Nonetheless, though the previous RB Leipzig boss might need requested a couple of questions of the inconsistent English giants, they’re nonetheless in search of some much-needed stability on residence soil.
Spending nearly all of final season battling it out on the foot of the Premier League desk, Southampton have now managed to win only a pair of their final 16 top-flight appearances.
Likewise, with that run stemming all the best way again to February twenty fifth, the Saints have additionally gained considerably of a repute for his or her struggles at St. Mary’s.
In actual fact, Saturday’s 1-0 loss by the hands of United now implies that Hasenhüttl’s males have gained simply certainly one of their earlier eight showdowns on the south coast.
Match Report:
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, A. Armstrong, Aribo, Elyounoussi, Adams
Subs: Mara, Perraud, Lyanco, S. Armstrong
Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, McTominay, Eriksen, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford
Subs: Casemiro, Ronaldo, Fred
Targets: Fernandes (55′)
Yellow Playing cards: McTominay, Fred, Dalot
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Andy Madley
