Manchester United secured their second win of the season, beating newly promoted Southampton 3-0 at St Mary’s Stadium. It was an enormous win for the Crimson Devils, who responded nicely to 2 disappointing defeats in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion and most not too long ago Liverpool at Outdated Trafford.

There was an early scare for Erik ten Hag’s facet after Diogo Dalot introduced Tyler Dibling down simply contained in the penalty field to provide the Saints a penalty. Nonetheless, Andre Onana pulled off a save low to his proper from Cameron Archer’s spot-kick, additionally managing to avoid wasting the rebound.

From there, United dominated, and took the lead via new centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who scored from a well-worked nook routine, assembly a Bruno Fernandes cross with a bullet header.

Marcus Rashford then doubled the Crimson Devils’ lead, scoring from vary and sending his effort previous Aaron Ramsdale’s far submit and into the underside nook. Alejandro Garnacho sealed the three factors with a late strike off the bench.

United can be happy with their efficiency, getting an important three factors and their second clear sheet of the season. There have been some spectacular defensive showings from their backline, with Lisandro Martinez placing in a very good shift.

Lisandro Martinez’s stats vs. Southampton

The 2023/24 season was irritating for United defender Martinez, who suffered a number of long-term accidents. In complete, the Argentine World Cup winner missed 42 video games and 188 days final time period with three separate accidents.

Nonetheless, he has appeared very a lot his previous self to this point this time period and was integral to United’s three factors on the South Coast on Saturday afternoon. The defender performed with one other former Ajax participant, De Ligt, for the fourth time at St Mary’s.

Certainly, the Argentine worldwide was so spectacular in opposition to Russel Martin’s facet that GiveMeSport journalist Louis Wheeldon gave him a post-match ranking of 8/10. The journalist acknowledged that Martinez put in “a number of essential” defensive contributions, earlier than praising his “good” passing.

That was additionally mirrored within the 26-year-old’s SofaScore stats. He accomplished a formidable 58 out of 60 passes, at an accuracy of 97%. Not solely that, the defender received 4 out of 4 floor duels and each of his tried tackles.

It was actually a formidable exhibiting from the defender, though he was arguably outshone by his companion De Ligt, who was excellent exterior of the objective he scored.

Matthijs de Ligt’s stats vs. Southampton

It was a superb first objective for the Crimson Devils for the person Ten Hag made captain of Ajax on the age of simply 17. Now an skilled campaigner regardless of being simply 25 years of age, De Ligt confirmed all of his class at St Mary’s this afternoon.

United’s quantity 4 went off injured, and Ten Hag can be determined for him to be accessible for subsequent weekend’s journey to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, given the character of his efficiency in opposition to the Saints.

Certainly, Wheeldon gave the Dutchman a better ranking than his defensive companion after the sport at St Mary’s. He graded De Ligt’s efficiency a 9/10, describing him as “imperious on the again” to associate with his objective.

The 25-year-old’s stats on SofaScore additionally made for spectacular studying. He made 59 passes out of 64 he tried, with a 92% accuracy. Defensively, the centre-back was colossal, profitable three from three aerial duels and making six clearances.

It was an outstanding efficiency from, the defender, who has made himself undroppable in the meanwhile below a supervisor who is aware of him so nicely.

Ten Hag should maintain the Dutch worldwide within the beginning XI shifting ahead as he has proven the defensive metal and energy that can be wanted to get pleasure from a profitable marketing campaign.