Manchester United returned to winning ways after cruising to a commanding 9-0 victory over nine-man Southampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
This is only the third time ever a side has won a Premier League game by 9+ goals (1995 -Manchester United 9-0 Ipswich Town)
(2019 – Southampton 0-9 Leicester City)
(2021 – Manchester United 9-0 Southampton).
United stay second on 44 points, same points as Manchester City who have two games in hand.
Southampton got off to the worst possible start when youngster Alexandre Jankewitz was sent off on his full league debut for a horror tackle on Scott McTominay.
The tone of the contest was now set as Southampton camped on the edge of their box hoping to soak up vast swathes of Man Utd pressure.
It proved futile when both full-backs combined to put the hosts one up.
Luke Shaw’s accurate cross picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the far post. The right-back stole a march on marker Danny Ings and side-footed the ball past Alex McCarthy.
The Red Devils doubled their lead when Mason Greenwood teed Marcus Rashford up to slot home from near the penalty spot.
United upped their advantage to three when Rashford’s cross was turned into his own net by Jan Bednarek.
Edinson Cavani soon got in on the act, the Uruguayan nodding home another Shaw cross to make it 4-0.
Southampton thought they’d pulled one back soon after the interval. A clever free-kick routine caught United napping, with Che Adams slotting home from a tight angle which was ruled out after consultation with VAR.
It was then Anthony Martial’s turn to get his name on the scoresheet. Brought on at half-time, the Frenchman showed superb technique to control a Fernandes pass before firing a powerful strike high into the roof of the net.
The trend of a different scorer for every goal kept up minutes later as McTominay added a sixth with a long-ranger that arrowed along the turf into the bottom corner.
Fernandes was finally given a chance to add his name to the scorers list after Bednarek completed his dismal evening by receiving a red card after conceding a penalty.
The Portuguese playmaker made no mistake from the spot, notching his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.
There was just time for Martial to notch his second and Daniel James to score as Man Utd emerged with a thoroughly dominant 9-0 victory.
And at St James’ Park Eberechi Eze provided the assist for the winning goal as Crystal Palace beat Newcastle 2-1.
Eze set up Gary Cahill in the 25th minute to scored what proved to be the decisive goal.
