Manchester United vs Southampton Player Ratings: Amad Diallo’s late hat-trick secures a smash and grab for the Red Devils against Southampton

Amad Diallo grabbed all the headlines as he helped Manchester United beat Southampton at home after a tough game. The Red Devils huffed and puffed for 80 minutes and were heading for a shock defeat at home to the bottom-placed Saints as Tyler Dibling’s deflected effort gave them the lead. But Amad changed the game with a late hat trick to complete a smash-and-grab for his side.

Old Trafford was eager to see their club win at home for the first time this year. After a nervy start, Southampton tore up the script as they took the fight to United. Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling drew fine saves from Onana in a bid to put the visitors in front. They did go ahead eventually as Dibling’s shot took a deflection off Ugarte to beat Onana.

It capped off a poor first period for United and prompted changes for the hosts before the hour mark. Zirkzee’s introduction in particular turned the tide as the Dutchman created great counters for them. Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho all came close to equalisers but it looked like it wasn’t their night.

Amad Diallo then took the game by the scruff of its neck to change their fortunes. His left-footed strike took a deflection of Kyle-Walker Peters before sitting up nicely for him on his right foot. He buried it past Ramsdale to draw them level in the 82nd minute. He then got on the end of Eriksen’s delightful lob into the box before striking a sweet volley to give United the lead.

The comeback was made even sweeter as Amad wrapped up his hat trick in the extra time after catching Harwood Bellis from behind and slotting the ball into an empty net. The first senior treble for the youngster spared United’s blushes at home.

This victory follows their exploits in the cup as United are building form steadily under Amorim. They are up to 12th in the table now and face Brighton who are a spot above them on the weekend. Southampton meanwhile are at rock bottom and without a league win in 11 games. The Saints in a desperate bid to beat Derby County’s lowest point record visit in-form Nottingham Forest next.

Manchester United Player Ratings vs Southampton

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana: 6.5/10- Made a lot of incredible saves in the first and the double save from Dibling and Fernandes stood out in particular. He was unlucky to concede a deflected opener.

Defenders

Leny Yoro: 5/10- The youngster was tormented by Sulemana throughout the day. He was beaten with ease multiple times by the speedster who went inside and outside to create chance after chance.

Matthijs de Ligt: 6.5/10- Had to react a lot of times as Yoro was beaten and he was in the firing line. Made a few key blocks to put out some fires.

Lisandro Martinez: 6/10- The ever-aggressive Argentinian committed some rash tackles that put his side under pressure. Was unimpressive on the ball as well.

Midfielders

Amad Diallo: 10/10- Started as the full-back on the night but he enjoyed another fine game of football. Was dangerous every time he had the ball and just went down too easily in the hope of getting a penalty in the first half. His persistence paid off as he fired past Ramsdale late in the game to equalise. Played a brilliant one-two with Eriksen before finishing past Ramsdale and sealed his hattrick after Southampton gifted him a chance.

Manuel Ugarte: 6/10- Tyler Dibling’s strike took an unwanted deflection off him as the Saints took the lead. His deficiencies on the ball were exposed as they targeted him with intense pressing. Was hooked off before the hour mark as he looked lost.

Kobbie Mainoo: 6/10- Put in a rather unpleasant first-half performance. Was slow to react to everything as Ugochukwu and Aribo drifted past him multiple times. Failed to generate any threat with the ball at his feet.

Noussair Mazraoui: 7/10- Had his hands tied down as Fernandes and Dibling took turns to double up on him and raid down the left wing. Did relatively well to shut them down at times.

Attackers

Alejandro Garnacho: 6/10- Had a very mixed night as he was brilliant on the ball a few times and shocking at the same time as well. Missed a great chance to open the scoring from a Hojlund cutback and then found Antony with a delicious cutback that the Brazilian failed to finish.

Bruno Fernandes: 6.5/10- The captain had multiple chances to score from outside the box but couldn’t beat Ramsadale in goal. He created multiple openings on the break in the second half as well.

Rasmus Hojlund: 6/10- Had a below-par outing as he couldn’t offer United anything concrete. Created a good chance for Garnancho nonetheless. He was replaced by Zirkzee who immediately got involved and created multiple openings showing how easy the transition play was.

Substitutes

Antony: 6/10

Joshua Zirkzee: 7/10

Toby Collyer: 6/10

Harry Maguire: N/A

Christian Eriksen: 7/10

Manager

Ruben Amorim: 6/10- They were outclassed by the Saints as they were sluggish after great performances against Liverpool and Arsenal. The defence in particular was rattled by the away side. Has to thank Amad Diallo a million times for rescuing the game.

Also Read: Bayern Munich 5-0 Hoffenheim Player Ratings: The Bavarians take a four point lead at the top in Bundesliga

Southampton Player Ratings vs Manchester United

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale: 6.5/10- Did well to Fernandes in the first half and should’ve been beaten by Antony from close range but was lucky to collect the ball safely. He then made routine saves from multiple efforts. Stood no chance against all three of Diallo’s finishes.

Defenders

James Bree: 7.5/10- Made a lot of recoveries and was tidy with the ball playing long passes that led to a chance too.

Jan Bednarek: 7/10-Marshalled the defence expertly with his experience and headed out multiple crosses that came his way.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis: 6/10- A huge block to deflect Antony’s goalbound effort early in the second half. Was comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas and played out with ease. A nightmare end to the game as he put Amad’s hat trick on a plate.

Midfielders

Yukinari Sugawara: 6/10- The Japanese international took good positions offensively but his touches let him down. Was fighting a lot of battles with Garancho on the wing.

Lesley Ugochukwu: 7/10- A great performance to win the ball back multiple times and charge forward with it too. He had to be fouled by Martinez when he was just about to shoot in the second half.

Joe Aribo: 7/10- The Nigerian stayed deeper at times to help his defence hold the opposition. Played his part in curbing multiple counters and was a menace on the break himself.

Kyle Walker-Peters: 6.5/10- Not his most proficient outing offensively but he just about did the job enough defensively to keep United at bay until Amad’s strike deflected off him and fell kindly for him to equalise.

Attackers

Mateus Fernandes: 8/10- He was brilliant throughout the game and should have scored if not for a brilliant reaction save from Onana. His set pieces were threatening too.

Tyler Dibling: 7.5/10- The youngster added another impressive display to his tally in his breakout season. He was smart with the ball, had agile dribbling and an eye for goal as his deflected effort opened the scoring.

Kamaldeen Sulemana: 7.5/10- He had a field day on the left as he beat Yoro for fun and would be shocked as to how he did not come away with a goal or assist. Should’ve scored when he cut past Yoro and de Ligt in the second half.

Substitutes

William Smallbone: 6/10

Flynn Downes: 6/10

Adam Armstrong: 6/10

Nathan Wood: N/A

Paul Onuachu: N/A

Manager

Ivan Juric: 6/10- His front three tonight were absolutely scintillating and they kept interchanging to cause United a lot of problems. Would be disappointed with the lack of goals though. Defensively too his side was solid until the late lapse. However, they need a lot of the same to escape the drop.

Also Read: Newcastle United vs Wolves Player Ratings: Alexander Isak Helps the Magpies Secure a Top-Four Spot