Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United put nine goals past a helpless Southampton on Tuesday as the Red Devils equalled their English Premier League record victory from 1995 against Ipswich Town.
The annihilation started in as early as the second minute when Southampton's 19-year-old Alex Jankewitz was sent off for a rugged challenge on Scott McTominay. He became only the fourth player in Premier League's history to be sent off within two minutes of kick-off.
United, on their part, took full advantage, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Jan Bednarek’s own goal making it 4-0 in the first half itself.
4 - Man Utd have scored four goals in the first half of a Premier League game for the second time this season, also doing so against Leeds. It's the first time they've scored 4+ goals in the first half of two games in a season since 1997/98 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Emphatic. pic.twitter.com/TRj0qXXCtO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2021
2 - Luke Shaw has as many Premier League assists in the first half against Southampton as he managed in his previous 45 Premier League appearances (2). Delivery. pic.twitter.com/qnkOII9PFK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2021
Solskjaer made two changes by the stroke of half-time, replacing an in-form Luke Shaw, who provided two assists, and Edinson Cavani by Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial. United continued their rampage as Martial scored twice before Bednarek was dismissed for a late challenge on the Frenchman. Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, finally found himself amongst goals for the first time in five league games. The Portuguese not only scored a goal but also got two assists.
15 - Only Eric Cantona and Dimitri Payet (both 33 games) have assisted 15 Premier League goals in fewer appearances than Bruno Fernandes, with tonight his 36th appearance in the competition. Provider. pic.twitter.com/YOelZkXSp5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2021
United were at their absolute best at Old Trafford, pouncing on every given opportunity. As far as Solskjaer is concerned, he has often been compared to his predecessors, and this win over the Saints proves why he has been United's best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils had scored 5+ goals on just two occasions under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. They have done this a whopping eight times under Solskjaer.
A nine-goal routing means United have already scored 46 goals in the league. Only Inter [49], PSG [50] & Bayern Munich [57] have scored more goals than them across Europe's top-five leagues. Manchester United had as many as seven different goalscorers on the night and this is only the second time that a team had these many scorers since Chelsea vs Aston Villa in December 2012.
Manchester United's next opponent in EPL fixtures is Carlo Ancelotti's Everton; a team that United have already beaten twice this season.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Phil Noble
