Manchester United 9-0 Southampton: 5 talking points as Red Devils run riot at Old Trafford | Premier League 2020-21 

Manchester United trashed Southampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday
Manchester United trashed Southampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday

Manchester United thrashed Southampton on Tuesday, with a nine-goal margin recorded at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made one change from the Red Devils side that played out a goalless draw with Arsenal last weekend, with Paul Pogba replaced in the starting lineup by Mason Greenwood.

The first major highlight came after Alexandre Jankewitz was shown a straight red card for a violent challenge on Scott McTominay in just the second minute.

Manchester United made their advantage count when Aaron Wan-Bissaka converted a cross by Luka Shaw to put his side ahead. This was only the second goal of the defender's professional career.

Manchester United soon went two goals up as Marcus Rashford was on hand to turn home a pass by Mason Greenwood.

Things went from bad to worse for Southampton when Jan Bednarek turned a cross by Wan-Bissaka into his own net in the 34th minute.

Edinson Cavani gave Manchester United a four-goal advantage in the 39th minute when he headed home a Luka Shaw cross to effectively end the contest.

The hosts thought they had a penalty when Cavani was felled in the area three minutes before half-time but VAR checks revealed that contact was made outside the box.

Southampton put the ball in the back of the net through Che Adams right at the start of the second half but the goal was chalked off for a marginal offside decision.

Anthony Martial came off the bench at half-time to score his first goal in nine games in the 69th minute, and McTominay made it 6-0 just two minutes later.

As time wore on, the Southampton players looked dejected and simply completed the motions in the dying seconds.

However, three goals were scored by the hosts in the final three minutes, and a red card was shown to Jan Bednarek for a foul on Martial in the box.

The 9-0 rout helped Manchester United go level on points with Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League table. However, Pep Guardiola's men have two games in hand.

Here are five talking points from the extremely one-sided fixture.

#9 Lightning strikes twice for Southampton

Southampton have suffered two 9-0 defeats
Southampton have suffered two 9-0 defeats

The date was 25 October, 2019, and the venue was St Mary's Stadium. Southampton had hosted Leicester City in pre-COVID times, with just over 28,000 supporters thronging the stadium to cheer their side to victory.

However, fans of the Saints got more than they bargained for, as a wet and cold night ended with their club getting on the wrong side of history.

Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez each had a hat-trick to ensure the night ended with a 9-0 thrashing by the Foxes.

In recognition of their shameful performance in front of their fans, the Southampton players forfeited their wages for that week and elected to give it to charity.

Anyone who felt they had seen the end of such embarrassment was in for a shock, as Southampton found themselves on the wrong end of another nine-goal trashing just a little over a year later.

Just like that October night in 2019, an early red card against Manchester United destabilised the Saints, and they ended this game with their tails between their legs yet again.

#4 Manchester United send massive statement of intent to the rest of the league

Manchester United are joint-top of the Premier  table
Manchester United are joint-top of the Premier League table

After a good run of form in December and January that propelled them to the top of the table, Manchester United hit a snag in the last week.

A defeat to bottom-placed Sheffield United followed by a dour draw against a depleted Arsenal saw the Red Devils lose their spot at the summit of the standings.

Their poor displays in the last week saw their title credentials called into question, with many opining that they did not have what it takes to go the distance.

However, they responded in style, with a nine-star display sending a message of intent to the rest of the competition.

On what was a perfect night, Bruno Fernandes got back among the goals, same with Martial. The full-backs were unplayable at both ends, and Edinson Cavani continued to be a thorn in the flesh of Southampton.

Manchester United have flattered to deceive on several occasions this season, and a nine-goal victory against a nine-man Southampton does not plaster over the cracks.

However, the Red Devils gave a comprehensive performance to make a folly of those who had written them off just last weekend.

#3 Manchester United get their name in the record books for the second time

Manchester United registered a 9-0 victory for the second time
Manchester United registered a 9-0 victory for the second time

Manchester United came into this fixture having not won a game by a five-goal margin since the great Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. By the end of the night, they had a nine-goal margin that sent them into the Premier League record books.

As already stated, Southampton had fallen to an embarrassing 9-0 defeat to Leicester City in October. This defeat equaled the record for the largest margin of victory in Premier League history.

The first time such a feat had been achieved was when Manchester United defeated Ipswich Town by the same scoreline in March 1995.

The 2020-21 Red Devils joined their forebears with another comprehensive display at Old Trafford. The victory also set the record for the first time that eight different players had gotten on the scoresheet for one team in a single game.

#2 Moment of madness by Alexandre Jankewitz sets the tone for embarrassing defeat

Less than two minutes had been played when Alexandre Jankewitz inexplicably committed a studs-high challenge on Scott McTominay.

There was practically no reason for such a dangerous challenge, leaving referee Mike Dean with no option but to show the 19-year-old a straight red card. There was also no need for VAR interference, as the tackle was dangerous enough to put McTominay in danger at first glance.

This was the maiden Premier League start for Jankewitz, and it is not a memory he would look back too fondly on.

Ralph Hassenhuttl threw his hands up in despair knowing what was coming after the challenge was made. The early dismissal hampered his gameplan and set the tone for the horrendous display that was to follow.

A more controversial red card was shown to Jan Bednarek late on, but it cannot be argued that the irrational challenge by Jankewitz set the tone for what was to follow.

#1 Drought ended for key Manchester United players

Bruno Fernandes scored a goal and provided two assists
Bruno Fernandes scored a goal and provided two assists

Anthony Martial came into this game having not scored for Manchester United in his last nine games in all competitions.

Incredibly, the France international started the game on the bench and was only introduced at half-time. He, however, ended the game with two goals and also won the penalty from which Fernandes scored.

For Bruno Fernandes, it was five Premier League games without finding the back of the net.

The Portugal international has been nothing short of exceptional since joining Manchester United, and it was always only a matter of time before he got back to his best.

Against Southampton, Fernandes left it late, but it proved to be a case of better late than never, as he ended the game with a goal and two assists.

He played no part in his side's first four goals before setting Martial up to put Manchester United 5-0 up. An 87th-minute penalty saw him register his 12th league goal, and his deft technique helped assist Daniel James for the last goal of the night.

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Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh