MANCHESTER United equalled a Premier League record for a winning margin as they ruthlessly battered nine-man Southampton 9-0 to go level with leaders Manchester City.
The contest was essentially decided after just 79 seconds as 18-year-old Alex Jankewitz, on his full Premier League debut, saw red for a high, horror tackle on Scott McTominay, prompting Saints to capitulate.
Two of United’s first-half goals came from Luke Shaw’s pinpoint left-wing deliveries – first, Aaron Wan-Bissaka turned home at the far post (18), before Marcus Rashford struck from 12 yards from Mason Greenwood’s cut-back (25).
Raheem Sterling to score first and either Manchester City to win 4-0 or Manchester City to win 4-1
Rashford’s dangerous ball was then turned into his own net by Jan Bednarek (34), and Edinson Cavani then got in on the act with a fine header into the far corner from another brilliant Shaw ball (39).
Sub Anthony Martial got his first goal in eight appearances with a superb control and finish from a tight angle (69), while McTominay got in on the act with a controlled, long-range effort (71).
Bruno Fernandes scored a late penalty as Bednarek saw red for a last-man foul on Martial (88), then the France international got his second with a close-range effort (90), and Dan James rounded it off with a stoppage-time finish (90+3).
It’s the second time Ralph Hasenhuttl has been on the wrong end of a 9-0 defeat in the Premier League with Saints, following their infamous defeat at the hands of Leicester last season. United last won a match by this margin in March 1995 vs Ipswich Town (9-0), and have now scored more goals than any Premier League side this season (46).
The result means United go level on points with Man City for 24 hours at least, having played two more games than their Manchester rivals, who go to Burnley on Wednesday evening.
United are, however, two points ahead of Liverpool having played a game more, while Saints are 12th having lost their last three.
