Manchester United 9-0 Southampton: Rampaging Devils destroy hapless Saints to go joint top

Manchester United 9-0 Southampton: Rampaging Devils destroy hapless Saints to go joint top on the Premier League table

 

Edison Cavani powers home a header to continue the rout at Old Trafford. It ended 9-0. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Manchester United dismantled a depleted Southampton side 9-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night to go level on points with Man City at the top of the Premier League.

The visitors were forced to play almost the entire game with 10 men after Southampton's Alex Jankewitz -- making his first Premier League start -- was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Scott Mc Tominay just 82 seconds into the match.

Aaron Wan Bissaka put Man United in front shortly past the quarter-hour, racing on to a Luke Shaw cross and meeting it at the back post to poke home for an early lead.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team doubled their lead soon after when Marcus Rashford redirected a Mason Greenwood assist past Saints keeper Alex McCarthy to make it 2-0 as the rain drops in torrents…

Man United's third came courtesy of a Southampton own goal, with Jan Bednarek inadvertently poking a whipped-in Rashford cross into his own net in the 34th minute as the hosts continued to dominate proceedings.

Edison Cavani added another goal before half-time to send United into the dressing room with a 4-0 lead but the Uruguay was soon removed.

Substitute Anthony Martial scored from close range as the second half played out and McTominay added United's sixth goal of the night shortly after the Frenchman's strike as the rout was well and truly on.

Bednarek's night got worse as full-time approached when the defender tripped Martial in the area, earning himself a sending off and gifting United a spot kick that Bruno Fernandes converted as assured as always.

Martial added his second of the night and Daniel James got in on the act in second-half stoppage time to reach the final score line.

The result, which ties the largest win in Premier League history, puts Man United level on 44 points with Man City at the top of the table, but Pep Guardiola's leaders are ahead on goal difference and also have two games in hand over their city rivals.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's Southampton side remain in 11th place in the standings with 29 points from 21 games.