This was another chance for Manchester United to kickstart their home form against a Southampton team who have lost a bit of form and were depleted coming into this game, so would Manchester United score some goals at home and go level on points with Man City, although Man City do have 2 games in hand.
It was played at Old Trafford
Disastrous start for Southampton
After just 2 minutes, it was the worst possible start for Southampton as Jankewitz caught McTominay high up on the thigh with a nasty, high challenge and the red card came out. Could United now take advantage of having a man advantage?
Six minutes later, Fred was 25 yards out , he opened his body up and went for goal, but it went a few yards high and wide.
After a quarter of a hour, McTominay curled one in from the right, aimed for Fred and Cavani, but Bednarek just flicked it away.
1st United goal
Three minutes later, Lindelof spread it to Rashford on the left, he gave it to Shaw and his lovely ball flew over Bertrand’s head and Wan-Bissaka arrived at the far post to finish past McCarthy, and United had their first goal.
After 23 minutes a freekick was taken by Shaw, it reached Lindelof but turned it wide.
2nd United goal
Two minutes later, United doubled their lead as Maguire found Shaw , he darted past Djenepo and fed Greenwood at the byline, Greenwood pulled it back for Rashford on the penalty spot, and he opened his body up and directed it past McCarthy. This was going to be a long, long night for Southampton.
Four minutes later, Southampton had a freekick which Ward-Prowse took, he went for top right rather than top left over the wall and De Gea tipped it over well.
After 33 minutes, Fernandes tried a shot from 25 yards out, it was curling for bottom corner but McCarthy got down well to save, the corner came to nothing.
A minute later, there was a wonderful ball from Fernandes from the right, it was a wonderful header over by Stephens, the resulting corner fell to Shaw who drove it into the ground, McCarthy saved at the enar post.
3rd Man United goal
In the same minute, United had their third goal as Rashford had space on the right side of the box, he curled a wicked cross in and Bednarek reached it 1st but he stuck a leg out and diverted it into his own net.
After 39 minutes, another dangerous United attack as Fernandes flick was brilliant for Wan-Bissaka who powered past Stephens , he crossed and Cavani fluffed his effort from 6 yards out.
4th United goal
In the same minute, United had their 4th of the evening and Southampton were crumbling. Shaw with a wicked delivery from the left again, he found Cavani in between Stephens and Bertrand and Cavani powered a header into the left corner past McCarthy.
Penalty to United or was it?
After 42 minutes, Cavani piled his way through, he was challenged by Ramsay, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. VAR had a look , because it may have JUST been outside the box, but it did look on the line. VAR said no penalty as they thought it was just outide the box, which meant freekick for United.
After 45 minutes, Fernandes took the freekick, he went low under the wall, the ball bounced off the wall and Maguire for a goalkick.
Halftime score: Manchester United 4-0 Southampton
It was a wonderful first half from Manchester United, albeit Southampton weren’t helped by the stupid challenge 2 minutes in, but United took full advantage and scored 4 first half goals. I feared for Southampton it could end up a similar score to when they played Leicester last season, so would the night get even better for United and even more painful for Southampton in the 2nd half?
After 50 minutes, it was another well worked move by United and Maguire fed Martial who played a nice 1-2 with Fernandes but his shot blocked.
Southampton goal ruled out
After 53 minutes, Southampton had a freekick, it was taken quickly , Adams got into the box, his first shot was blocked by Wan-Bissaka , he got a 2nd chance and he squeezed it in from an angle. The goal was ruled out for offside.
Just before the hour mark, Fernandes tested Mccarthy from the edge of the box, the ball bounced just in front of McCarthy and he gathered as Van de Beek was looking to pounce.
Fifth United goal
After 69 minutes yet another goal for Man United as Fernandes clipped a well-weighted ball through to Martial in the box. Martial was onside and he wrestled Bednarek away, he turned and shot and it flew into the roof of the net, how many more were United going to get?.
Sixth United goal
With 19 minutes to go, a sixth goal went in for United as Greenwood at an angle forced a good save by McCarthy, but the ball squirmed to McTominay 25 yards from goal, he ran onto it, controlled his effort and it flew into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later, a rare Southampton chance as Redmond squared to Adams in space in the box but he blazed over.
With fifteen minutes to Martial was released through on goal, McCarthy rushed out and Martial dinked it over him but the ball dropped just wide of the far post.
After 78 minutes McTominay found Martial on the edge of the box but he was crowded out this time. The ball fell to Fernandes who curled an effort just wide.
Penalty to United and another red card for Southampton
After 83 minutes Martial took a tumble after little contact from Bednarek and the referee gave a penalty. VAR looked at it 20 times, then they told the referee to look at it himself. Eventually the referee gave the penalty and sent Bednarek off to make things even worse for an already depleted Southampton, although his sending off was a bit harsher than the 1st sending off.
7th United goal
Because it took about 4 minutes for VAR to sort it out, the penalty wasn’t taken for another 4 minutes but once it was taken Fernandes sent McCarthy diving to his left while slotting the penalty away in the other direction, this was really good from United, really painful from Southampton.
8th United goal
After 90 minutes, United made it EIGHT as Wan-Bissaka whipped a cross in from the right, and Martial had time to chest it down and smashed it home from close range.
After 90+2 minutes Greenwood crossed from deep out on the right and Martial couldn’t quite get enough of it.
NINTH United goal
After 90+3 minutes Southampton’s misery was complete as another cross from the right and Fernandes cushioned the header into the path of James who finished from very close range.
Fulltime score: Manchester United 9 (NINE)-0 Southampton
What can I say a ruthless performance from Manchester United against a depleted Southampton team.
I never thought I’d have to write a match report where one of my teams scored nine goals.
It’s the first time in a top division game Manchester United put nine past an opponent since 1995 when they put nine past Ipswich Town. It certainly helped United’s goal difference. It was a memorable night for all Man United fans.
Highlights of this incredible performance for United are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2NDfyQHIhY
It means Manchester United are joint top with Man City on 44 points, but Man City have 2 games in hand. Man City’s goal difference at time of writing is +24, United have got theirs up to +19.
Next for Man United is a home game with Everton on Saturday 6th February with an 8pm kickoff where I assume there will be a minutes silence as it’s the anniversary of the Munich Air disaster.
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