Sports
Manchester United 4-0 Southampton LIVE Wan-Bissaka, Rashford and Cavani score after Jankewitz sent off


Follow latest updates from Old Trafford as Man Utd take on Southampton in the Premier League.
Manchester United take on Southampton in the Premier League at Old Trafford this evening (8.15pm kick-off, UK time).
United failed to win their previous two league games, losing at home to Sheffield United and drawing 0-0 with Arsenal, but will go level on points with City at the top if they win tonight.
The Reds had a fairly uneventful deadline day, though Marcos Rojo’s permanent exit from the club was confirmed earlier today. Amad Diallo was the only January arrival and it remains to be seen when the young winger will make his senior debut following a transfer from Atalanta. He is not in the squad tonight.
Scott McTominay was withdrawn against the Gunners but starts alongside Fred, while Paul Pogba drops to the bench and Anthony Martial is also named among the substitutes. Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire are United’s centre-back pairing.
United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.
Subs: Henderson, Telles, Bailly, Williams, Matic, Pogba, Van de Beek, James, Martial.
Follow the latest updates from Old Trafford below.
KEY EVENTS
- Martial 5-0!
21:43 - HALF TIME
21:04 - 4-0!
20:55 - 3-0!
20:50 - 2-0
20:41
70 MINS, 5-0
Martial confidence-booster
A lovely finish from a tight angle by Martial, who nets a third league goal of the season — and one that he badly needed.
A great ball from Fernandes sets it up. That’s a good boost of confidence for the French forward.
KEY EVENT
Martial 5-0!
Anthony Martial with a great finish to make it 5-0!
68 MINS, 4-0
More solid from Saints
Fred’s cross forces Ings to concede a corner, from which United cannot create an opportunity.
United remain camped in the Saints’ half but the visitors are defending much better at the moment.
66 MINS, 4-0
RICHARD FAY
Left-back call is an interesting one
It says a lot about United’s desire to score more goals that Fred has survived at left-back with Alex Telles and Brandon Williams both on the bench.
You’ve got to admire the faith Solskjaer has in his subs with Van de Beek, Martial and James all in desperate need of a confidence boost. Giving them all a fair chance tonight is evidence of his excellent man-management skills.
65 MINS, 4-0
Wan-Bissaka good
Wan-Bissaka does well to tackle in the United box when Armstrong thought he was in. He’s been brilliant going forward and backwards tonight.
James storms down the left and pulls it back, Greenwood is then thwarted as he surges forward.
62 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Rashford impressed
That was a good run-out for Rashford, though questions will be asked over why Fernandes is staying on for the full 90 minutes.
60 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Third sub
Daniel James replaces Marcus Rashford in United’s third change.
59 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Tempo is key
United coaches are urging their players to move the ball quicker. That has to keep happening if they want to make further inroads and score more goals. Fernandes tries to do just that but his flick gives the ball away. Wan-Bissaka then does well tackling back.
55 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
United caught out, but VAR saves them
David de Gea didn’t seem happy with United for not being alert from a free-kick.
After a lengthy delay, VAR rules it out! That was very very close.
4-1
Southampton have a goal.
Che Adams catches United sleeping.
53 MINS, 4-0
RICHARD FAY
Keeping the hunger
It says a lot about this United side that they are so hungry for more goals in the second-half.
It would be understandable to back off and take a comfortable three points now, but they are clearly hungry to bolster their goal difference – something which could be crucial in the title race.
52 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
United yellow
Martial nearly in for a goal, as Stephens closesd the door on him at the last moment.
Maguire is then booked as he follows through late on Stephens.
50 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Keep-ball
Some solid possession play from United early in this second half, without a major chance as yet. Wan-Bissaka’s cross too high for Van de Beek.


48 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
New Fred position
Fred playing at left-back, in fact, seems to be the tactical change that comes from that half-time double sub.
That will be interesting.
46 MINS, 4-0
RICHARD FAY
Three-man back line
The half-time subs are a bit odd with United switching to a three-man defence – but I guess now is as good a time as any to at least give that experiment a comfortable run-out.
DOMINIC BOOTH
SECOND HALF
We are back under way. More goals, anyone?
21:19
DOMINIC BOOTH
Confirmed double sub
Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw are replaced by Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial at the break.
Big chances for them.
21:14
DOMINIC BOOTH
Half time changes
Van de Beek will get his chance.
21:08DOMINIC BOOTH
Shaw a man on form
Another stellar half from United’s left-back.
21:04SAMUEL LUCKHURST
First half ratings
De Gea
Can put his feet up. 7
Wan-Bissaka
Excellent half. 8
Lindelof
No issues. 7
Maguire
Led well. 7
Shaw
Fantastic. 9
McTominay
Recovered from injury. 7
Fred
Forward-thinking with the ball. 7
Fernandes
Linked up well. 7
Greenwood
Assisted Rashford. 7
Rashford
Scored. 7
Cavani
Fine header. 8KEY EVENT
HALF TIME
4-0 at half time. Wow.


45 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Added time
Fernandes took the resulting free-kick that was outside the box… and the wall blocked it.
We’ll have two minutes of added time.
44 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
Penalty overturned
VAR checked the penalty, as it looked like it could have been outside the box when Cavani was fouled.
No penalty. Overturned.
42 MINS, 4-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
PENALTY
Penaly United. Could be five…
41 MINS, 4-0
RICHARD FAY
United have been ruthless
It’s getting to the stage where the Southampton club account might have to tweet The Simpsons GIF urging United to stop because they’re already dead. Yes there was an incredibly early red card, but it is still huge credit to United for making it so painfully clear on the pitch.
Donny van de Beek and Daniel James might be genuinely worthwhile second-half subs.
4-0!
Cavani makes it four! Shaw again the creator and a fine headed goal.
38 MINS, 3-0
DOMINIC BOOTH
There will be changes
Lots of United fans will be asking when Solskjaer makes changes.
The second half will surely be a good time to rest players. Cavani comes close, neaerly flickig Fernandes’ cross home at the near post.
36 MINS, 3-0
RICHARD FAY
Training exercise now
It’s really starting to feel like a training exercise for United now with perpetual attacks towards the Southampton goal.
How many will they get? McTominay blazes off target.
35 MINS, 3-0
SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Game over
Well that’s game over. United beat Southampton 5-0 and 6-1 in successive seasons at home at the start of the century and should be aiming to tally at least five goals tonight.
Maguire has been on Greenwood’s case to muck in inside his own half and challenge for the second balls. Michael Carrick has been much more present in the technical area than usual, as if trying to locate the chinks in Southampton’s armour.


3-0!
United have a third! Rashford’s hard cross is put into his own net by Bednarek for an own goal.
Fred would surely have scored if the defender didn’t get a touch. 34 MINS, 2-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Shaw good
The corner was cleared by Saints, but United’s pressure is now incessant.
Corner after corner. Shaw shoots low and hard but it’s well saved.
32 MINS, 2-0DOMINIC BOOTH
McCarthy save
Fernandes then does get involved, shooting at goal and forcing McCarthy to turn behind for a corner. 31 MINS, 2-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Fernandes wasteful
For all United’s dominance and goals so far, Bruno Fernandes has given it away a lot. Not his sharpest half hour.


28 MINS, 2-0DOMINIC BOOTH
DDG v JWP
A couple more Ward-Prowse set-pieces, but United (just) see them off, though Djenpo took a bash from Cavani for the free-kick that’s taken from the edge of the United box.
The Saints skipper forces a good save from De gea. 27 MINS, 2-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Should now be a stroll
Shaping up to be a post-restart win for United: a stroll boxed off before half-time with the scope to rest regulars in the second-half. One of those wins has been overdue and there is maybe more chance of Jacob Rees-Mogg draping the European flag around him than Southampton getting anything from this. KEY EVENT
2-0
RASHFORD SCORES!
A vital second goal is created by Shaw and Greenwood on the left, and buried by Rashford with a simple finish. Breathing space. 24 MINS, 1-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Shaw heavily involved
More probing by United in front of the Southampton banks of four. Shaw’s cross is too long for Wan-Bissaka this time.


22 MINS, 1-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Set piece Saints’ threat
United conceded a corner not long after scoring. That’s one thing they cannot do… allow James Ward-Prowse to get set peices into the box, or on goal directly.
That is Southampton’s route back into it. 20 MINS, 1-0RICHARD FAY
Full backs playing their part
That is the type of goal United just don’t normally score. It’s credit to Luke Shaw he offered such a beautiful whipped ball into the box, but also a huge credit to Aaron Wan-Bissaka for being in the right position to easily tap it in.
They both have work to do going forward, but perhaps don’t get the credit they deserve for making their roles in the position such non-contests. 19 MINS, 1-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Shaw made the goal
That’s reliably excellent from Luke Shaw and United must aim to put Southampton to the sword now. Everything is weighted in their favour and this could be a procession, a chance to rest some regulars along the way, too, possibly.
The emphasis from the staff and players was, unsurprisingly, to keep the pressure on after the breakthrough. KEY EVENT
1-0 United!
Wan-Bissaka scores! He volleyed home at the back post after a great Shaw cross. United have the precious goal.17 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Deflected effort
Rashford’s shot is deflected and easily gathered by Saints keeper McCarthy.
United need to create more clearcut openings, but you feel the goal wil come at this rate. 16 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Good cross
A great cross by McTominay is not converted. His ball so nearly found Fred, but the Brazilian wasn’t tall enough.
Constant pressure from United here.14 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Greenwood floating
A slight change of shape?
13 MINS, 0-0RICHARD FAY
A different Southampton
It will be interesting to see how Southampton adapt to this given they play with such intensity and love to hurry their opposition.
Their gameplan should surely be to sit back and invite the pressure, a challenge which United have often struggled to find the answer to. 12 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Tempo is key
Very well worked by United until Wan-Bissaka’s cross is blocked and the he’s offside as the ball broke back to him.
They have to be speedy when passing in the final third, to break Southampton down. Maguire’s pass is just too long for Shaw. 10 MINS, 0-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
United cannot pass up chances
What’s got lost amid the reflections on the red is United should be ahead. Rashford passed up a great opportunity to at least test McCarthy and made the wrong move in trying to lay it off to Fernandes.
Had that gone in, United might have been looking to rack up a scoreline similar to the Leeds game. For now, Southampton have the scoreline to hold on to.


9 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Fred shot
Fred has a shot over the bar, as United build nicely that tiime.
The Brazilian has shown more of an eye for a shot in recent weeks. 8 MIN, 0-0RICHARD FAY
Big United advantage
United looked to have a huge advantage even ahead of kick-off given the two contrasting midfield selections. That was a Jonathan Woodgate-esque debut from Alexandre Jankewitz, United have to win this now. 7 MINS, 0-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Fastest Old Trafford red?
Cannot think of a faster red card at Old Trafford in my lifetime. Hyypia saw red early doors in 2003 but not that early. It was an overzealous and dangerous challenge. The adrenaline could the better of Jankewitz on his debut but he is going to struggle for sympathy.
There were 77 seconds on the clock at the point of contact. 5 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
NO need for VAR
Thankfully McTominay is okay, though he did have stud marks on his thigh. Rashford nearly went through and scored straight away. He should have shot.
3 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Nightmare start for Saints
A very high challenge on McTominay and the young Southampton midfielder cannot complain at all.
That was very very rash. Southampton have a nightmare start. 2 MINS, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Red card
A crisp start for both Fred and McTominay in the middle as the two teams jostle… and there’s an early red card!
The youngster Jankewitz has been sent off!1 MIN, 0-0RICHARD FAY
Vocal start
Scott McTominay the most vocal United player as the game kick-off with loud shouts of ‘come on!’ from the Scottish midfielder.
He’ll be desperate to make up for lost time given his early departure at the weekend. KEY EVENT
KICK OFF
Here we go. 20:14DOMINIC BOOTH
Ready
The players are out ahead of kick off and we’re good to go.20:08DOMINIC BOOTH
United forwards ‘lacking mojo’
Solskjaer tells BT Sport before the match that United are maybe lacking some ‘mojo’ in attack but has backed Mason Greenwood to come good, amid a “season of almosts” for the yongster.
The Norwegian will be hoping his decisino to start Greenwood over Paul Pogba pays off tonight. 19:59RICHARD FAY
Cavani will be eager to bounce back
There are few fans who would have wanted to see Edinson Cavani on the bench tonight — but he has somewhat of a point to prove given those two glaring misses against Arsenal at the weekend. He has revolutionised the attack, but there is still room for improvement.
If anything his signing looks to have given United the blueprint for a future marquee signing, Erling Haaland ticks every box bar his agent.
19:50DOMINIC BOOTH
Solskjaer explains team selection
Just the one change tonight, but plenty of talking points from the team news.


19:46SAMUEL LUCKHURST
No cakewalk tonight
Southampton have impressed on almost every visit to Old Trafford since their 2012 promotion. Sir Alex Ferguson said they were the best team United had faced all season after a narrow January 2013 win in what was one of Mauricio Pochettino’s first managerial matches in England. Southampton merited their 1-1 draw the following season and, of course, there was the 1-0 triumph against Louis van Gaal’s United and its sequel victory the next campaign by the same scoreline. United had a total of one attempt on target across those two defeats, which must have delighted Van Gaal’s old adversary Ronald Koeman.
Pogba made his maiden United start in a 2-0 victory in August 2016 and, since then, Southampton have drawn 0-0, lost 3-2 and drawn 2-2 in M16. Few are suspecting a cakewalk tonight.


19:39RICHARD FAY
A win changes the picture
The fact Wolves are now 2-1 up against Arsenal (albeit playing with nine men) probably doesn’t aid the argument that the weekend draw was a good result at the Emirates.
A win tonight certainly does make it more presentable, but after two games without a win nothing other than three points will do tonight. 19:35SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Rejuvenated Pogba could well be missed
One didn’t expect, not even two months after Mino Raiola’s chat with Tuttosport, to be wondering why Pogba is not in the United XI tonight. His absence is peculiar, whatever the mitigation.
Maybe after dropping five points last week, Solskjaer is reining in his own attacking instincts by sticking with the trusted trio of McTominay, Fred and Fernandes, and Southampton have given United some gruelling games in recent years — not least, on Solskjaer’s watch.


19:25RICHARD FAY
Balance in the middle
The big team news is Paul Pogba’s absence — and it is refreshing that his loss will truly be felt on the team given his excellent recent run of form.
However, that midfield trio is probably the best balanced at the club, with the Frenchman’s left-wing role always unlikely with Mason Greenwood back in the squad. The teenager was the best forward in the defeat to Sheffield United and deserves his start tonight.


19:22SAMUEL LUCKHURST
McTominay and Fred reunited
Felt certain this wouldn’t be a game for McTominay and Fred but Solskjaer thinks otherwise, which is a major show of respect to Southampton. Irrespective of Southampton’s injury issues, it’s a questionable midfield duo (Pogba and Fred was my personal choice).
Lindelof starts successive league games for the first time since Boxing Day, which is a possible show of his durability after managing a back problem.


19:19DOMINIC BOOTH
Pogba on the bench
Here are both squads in full:
United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.
Subs: Henderson, Telles, Bailly, Williams, Matic, Pogba, Van de Beek, James, Martial.
Southampton XI: McCarthy; Ramsay, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Jankewitz, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Djenpo, Adams, Ings.
Subs: Forster, Lewis, Tchaptchet, Ferry, Finnigan, Chauke, Watts, Redmond, Nlundulu. KEY EVENT
TEAM NEWS
Here is tonight’s Manchester United team:
19:11SAMUEL LUCKHURST
No Diallo tonight
There was no sign of Diallo with the squad earlier – as reported by the MEN – and that comes as no surprise. United will decide on Thursday whether he plays against Blackburn for the U23s at Leigh on Friday or comes into the matchday squad against Everton on Saturday.
Going off Solskjaer’s answer in the written press Zoom call yesterday, it sounds like the preference is for Diallo to play again for the U23s.


19:08SAMUEL LUCKHURST
United will have to do it the hard way
Horrendous weather against a battling team who seldom yield and have a habit of performing at Old Trafford. This has the makings of another gritty United win in a season of slogs.
Southampton have some severe injury issues but can still field a competitive enough team to trouble United and they have not been whipped here at Old Trafford since December 2004 – when Wayne Rooney was not four months into his United career.


19:06
United’s front three confirmed
Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood start on the flanks tonight, with Edinson Cavani through the middle.
Full team news to follow in just under 10 minutes.