Southampton
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Fraser Forster – 6/10
In truth, the Southampton goalkeeper didn’t have a lot to do, apart from picking the ball out of the net two twice.
Cedric Soares – 7/10
Southampton’s brightest player. The Portuguese put in several gorgeous crosses into the box and was often their best attacking outlet. He did leave spaces behind but still had a great performance overall.
Virgil van Dijk – 7/10
Another player on the losing side who emerges with a lot of credit. The former Celtic defender made several interceptions and tackles, and if it weren’t for him United would have racked up a much larger scoreline.
Jose Fonte – 6/10
Not a nightmare game by any stretch of the imagination but Fonte was not as good as his defensive partner. The Portuguese star had a decent game but there was not much he could do to quell United’s seamless football.
Matt Targett – 6.5/10
Targett put in some nice cross into the box that should have been taken better advantage of. Remember Graziano Pelle? Southampton might miss his aerial abilities this year. In any case, Targett put in a decent shift.
Steven Davis – 5.5/10
Davis hustled around the pitch in his trademark style, but would admit he didn’t have the influence in midfield he usually brings. He also wore off as the game went on and was eventually substituted as his team tried to chase the game.
Oriol Romeu – N/A
The former Barca player didn’t last long because of injury.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 6/10
He certainly can’t be faulted for his work rate or endeavour today and constantly hustled around the pitch. He won possession a few times, but also committed a lot of unnecessary fouls.
Dusan Tadic – 6.5/10
Tadic would have felt that his teammates weren’t often on the same wavelength as him as a lot of good link-up play by him went astray. More is expected from the Serbian, especially from his shooting which was wayward.
Nathan Redmond – 5.5/10
Another player who clearly has the attributes to frighten opposition defences but wasn’t at his sharpest today. Redmond should target double figures for goals this season though and see where it takes him. Today, he was underwhelming.
Shane Long – 5/10
He hit the side-netting with a snapshot in the first half, in what could have been seen as warming up for something better but things only went downhill from there. He missed his team’s best chance later, and never really got into the game.
Substitutes
Jordy Clasie – 5/10
Clasie was actually fairly tidy after he replaced Romeu early in the game, but his careless challenge on Luke Shaw ruined it all really.
Charlie Austin – N/A
Although the striker was brought on with a fair chunk of the game remaining, he couldn’t really do much against the United defence.
Jay Rodriguez – N/A
Not enough time to make an impression.
