Jose Mourinho’s first home game as Manchester United boss ended in a victory as a double from new boy Zlatan Ibrahimovic was enough to defeat Claude Puel’s Southampton.
World-record signing Paul Pogba was handed his first start since re-joining Manchester United this summer as United looked to get their home campaign underway in style. It was Pogba’s United that started the better, putting pressure on Southampton and forcing them to drop deep with the hosts wide men causing problems for the Saints back line.
There was an early injury blow for the visitors, too, with tough-tackling midfielder Oriol Romeu being forced off, meaning that he was replaced by Dutchman Jordy Clasie.
It didn’t take long for the first real chance of the game either, with Pogba’s 18-yard strike being well held by Fraser Forster.
Southampton handed a first league start to summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the Denmark international was in the thick of most of the first half action, with his passing play and his breaking up of United’s attacks proving very impressive for Claude Puel’s men.
18 minutes into the game and the visitors had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock, with last week’s goalscorer Nathan Redmond’s fizzing cross almost finding Dusan Tadic, with the Serb unable to get the crucial touch.
The Saints continued to search for the opening goal, Shane Long firing into the side-netting after he met Tadic’s knock down.
It was Long again with a big chance to put Southampton into the lead after Tadic picked him out with a superb pass, however, last season’s 10-goal man could only scuff the ball into David de Gea’s gloves.
Four minutes later, however, the hosts were ahead. Wayne Rooney was given time and space out on the right to pick out a cross for target man Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who towered above Saints skipper Jose Fonte to power the ball past Fraser Forster.
However, Southampton reacted well to going behind, immediately getting the ball forward towards Shane Long, who was inches away from meeting Tadic’s cross to head in an immediate equaliser.
Saints continued to press straight from the re-start and their early pressure so nearly paid off, as the creative Tadic had the ball in the back of the United net, only for the goal to be rightly ruled out for offside.
United soon got a hold on the game and began to get forward with menace, with Anthony Martial’s long range effort not held by Forster and the impressive Virgil van Dijk was on hand to clear the danger.
The hosts pressure paid immediate dividends. Former Southampton starlet Luke Shaw with a bursting run into the box, only to appear to be up-ended by substitute Jordy Clasie. Referee Anthony Taylor had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. However, replays show the decision was harsh one as Shaw appeared to trip over his own feet.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic duly stepped up and sent Forster the wrong way for his third goal in two games in his maiden Premier League campaign. The goal was harsh on Southampton, who had started the second half minutes brilliantly.
It was the hosts who started to become the more dominant force, with the Pace and power of their front men causing Saints all kinds of problems. Anthony Martial was sent racing through and beat Jose Fonte for pace, only for his eventual shot to be blocked brilliantly by Virgil van Dijk, who was having an excellent game.
Southampton did manage to regain control in the final 15 minutes, however, with Shane Long – who was later replaced by Jay Rodriguez – heading just wide from a Cedric Soares cross, and Dusan Tadic flashing the ball wide of the post.
Nonetheless, Saints were unable to find a goal and 2-0 it finished. No Old Trafford hat-trick for Claude Puel’s men, who were just lacking the cutting edge which could have possibly caused Jose Mourinho’s new-look United a few more problems.
Sunderland at home next up for the Saints as they look to record their first three points of the new campaign.
