Man Utd vs Southampton LIVE: Result and reaction as Amad Diallo rescues hosts late in game at Old Trafford
Man Utd 3-1 Southampton: Diallo’s hat-trick spared some blushes for Ruben Amorim’s men
Manchester United earned victory from the jaws of defeat on a bewildering night at Old Trafford. Amad Diallo netted and late hat-trick in front of the Stretford End to ensure the hosts came from behind to defeat Southampton 3-1.
Ivan Juric will leave Manchester at a loss to how his team lost this game. Southampton, who remain at the bottom of the table, were the better team for most of the game. They piled the pressure on United and forced the Red Devils to defend deep in the first half.
A corner kick saw them take the lead as Tyler Dibling’s flick on struck Manuel Ugarte and deflected past a busy Andre Onana. Ruben Amorim made changes and pushed Amad further up the pitch.
The move was rewarded in the final 10 minutes as the winger struck three times to back an improbable mission seem easy and deserved. United move up to 12th and have unearthed a true matchwinner.
Relive the Premier League action from Old Trafford below:
Diallo's destiny?
Amad Diallo has been involved in nine goals in his last 12 Premier League starts for Manchester United, scoring three and assisting six.
The Ivorian could become the first African player to reach double figures for goal involvements in a single campaign for the Red Devils.
Build from the back
Southampton defenders Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens pass to each other on average 40 times per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, the highest average of any duo to play at least 500 minutes together this term.
Set piece improvements needed
Nine of United's 28 Premier League goals conceded this season have been headers, while nine have also come from corners; both league-high ratios of 32%
Manchester United set transfer demand for Alejandro Garnacho to Napoli based on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s fee
Napoli are pressing ahead with a move for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, as they seek to reshape the attack after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's expected move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to listen to all offers this January, even for homegrown products, due to the club's highly restricted circumstances with PSR. Ruben Amorim wants to begin to overhaul of the squad, but can't without sales.
Man Utd set new Garnacho transfer demand after £70m deal completed
Unwanted records for Amorim
Since Ruben Amorim's appointment, United have won just eight league points from a possible 27.
They would be in the relegation zone based on their form over the last six matches. Only Leicester City and Southampton have amassed fewer than their four points during this period.
The Red Devils could also lose four top-flight games in a row at home for the first time since 1930.
A lack of goals and a lack of wins
Southampton have scored only 12 league goals this season - the lowest tally of any side in the top five tiers of English football.
They are winless in their last 17 Premier League away games, their longest stretch of top-flight matches on the road without a victory since a sequence of 19 fixtures ended in February 1986.
Saints on course for relegation
Southampton are statistically the worst-ever side after 20 games of a Premier League season: their tally of six points is the same as Sunderland's 19 years ago but Saints have a worse goal difference of -32.
The lowest points a team has had at the halfway stage of a Premier League campaign and avoided relegation is 10 by West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05.
Bruno Fernandes promises to ‘deliver’ more positive results for Manchester United
Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, promised to ‘deliver’ more positive results for the team following their penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Fernandes scored the opening goal at the Emirates Stadium before Arsenal defender Gabriel equalised after Diogo Dalot had been sent off in the second half.
United played 60 minutes with 10-men against the Gunners and came through extra-time to force a shootout which they won 5-3 after Joshua Zirkzee’s decisive winner.
Bruno Fernandes promises to ‘deliver’ more positive results for Manchester United
United's awful run
Manchester United have lost five of their last seven Premier League matches, winning just once.
They have lost three successive Premier League fixtures at Old Trafford for the first time in 45 years.
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