Manchester United 1-1 Southampton: 5 Talking Points as Red Devils drop points yet again | Premier League 2021-22

#3. Jadon Sancho the only positive for Manchester United

Jadon Sancho in action against Southampton.

Jadon Sancho scored for the Red Devils yet again. The England international had also scored against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup tie which his side eventually lost.

Sancho has started looking like his former self again. Although his decision-making in the final third was questionable on various occasions, he looked threatening every time he advanced higher up the pitch.

Today's game might have lifted his confidence considerably. Sancho has started delivering for Manchester United and is showing why they splashed €85 million for him. Ralf Rangnick will be hoping that he continues his recent showings.

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#2 Massive performance by Southampton in the second half

Che Adams celebrates after scoring a goal.

The visitors were clearly the dominant side following the restart. Che Adams and Armando Broja were a menace upfront and completely paralyzed Manchester United's defenders.

Broja's skill and pace yielded no response as he ran riot higher up the pitch. He really had Maguire gasping for breath and left him fazed by his trickery. Adams scored the equalizing goal for Southampton early on in the second half after receiving a defense splitting pass from Mohamed Elyounoussi.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo's drought continues

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal scoring struggles continue.

Cristiano Ronaldo has not had the best of starts to the year, having scored no goal so far in 2022. He has gone six games without scoring, which is his longest drought since 2020. The 37-year-old looked bright in the opening half and he even came close to scoring a goal twice against Southampton. His early attempt was denied off the line once and another was ruled out for offside.

Ronaldo last scored a goal against Burnley on 30th December 2021. The five-time Ballon d'Or has come under fire for his recent performances.

Ralf Rangnick has also, in his recent interviews, acknowledged that Ronaldo needs to score more. With Edinson Cavani unable to start more than two games in a row, it has become all the more important that the Portuguese delivers.