Manchester United secures 3-0 victory over Southampton

Manchester United bounced back from consecutive defeats with a commanding 3-0 win against Southampton on Saturday afternoon. Erik ten Hag's side, under pressure after losses to Brighton and Liverpool, showed resilience, with André Onana and Matthijs de Ligt playing pivotal roles in the victory.

United looks to bounce back after tough losses

United entered the match needing a response after a tough week in the Premier League. Southampton, newly promoted and still without a point this season, offered the perfect opportunity for a resurgence. Zirkzee got an early chance to make his mark. The young striker, who impressed for the Netherlands, had a golden opportunity to open the scoring after 15 minutes but failed to capitalize.

Onana's heroics and De Ligt's header

The first half saw Southampton nearly take the lead after Diogo Dalot conceded a penalty. Cameron Archer stepped up to take it, but André Onana came to United’s rescue with a stunning save, keeping the score level. Just two minutes later, United punished Southampton for their missed chance. De Ligt rose above the defense to head home a corner, putting United 1-0 ahead. With momentum on their side, United quickly doubled their lead. Marcus Rashford found the back of the net with a low shot that struck the post before rolling in, giving Manchester United a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

Southampton struggles

The second half saw little improvement from Southampton, who struggled to break down United's organized defense. Things went from bad to worse for the home side in the 79th minute when Jack Stephens received a straight red card, leaving Southampton with ten men for the remainder of the match. United controlled the game with ease in the final stages, and Ten Hag took the opportunity to hand Manuel Ugarte his Premier League debut. In stoppage time, substitute Alejandro Garnacho added a final flourish, scoring United's third goal to seal an emphatic 3-0 win. This victory lifts Manchester United to six points from four matches, a much-needed boost after their recent setbacks. Ten Hag’s squad will look to build on this momentum as they aim to climb further up the Premier League table.