Manchester United have moved into the top four of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-2 win over Southampton in Saturday's encounter at Old Trafford.
Yann Valery put Southampton into the lead with a 25-yard strike, but Andreas Pereira responded with an equally spectacular effort to get United back on level terms.
Romelu Lukaku soon put United ahead and, although James Ward-Prowse equalised with a stunning free kick, Lukaku netted a second in the closing stages to earn all three points for the home side.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in the North-West courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester United and Southampton. The home side are looking to register a 10th win from 12 under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while the Saints may be content with a point at Old Trafford this afternoon. The sides are making their way out onto the pitch, so let's see who features in each starting lineup...
MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Pereira; Sanchez, Pogba, Rashford; Lukaku
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Gunn; Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard; Valery, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand; Redmond; Austin
KICKOFF: We are underway at Old Trafford.
CHANCE! United have started on top here and the signs are ominous for the visitors. Lukaku's effort had the potential to deceive Gunn with the ball bouncing just before the goalkeeper, but the Englishman does well to parry the shot away.
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Gunn has to come to the rescue again - the second time in the space of a few minutes. Pereira took aim from distance and aimed for the far top corner, but the goalkeeper made a fine save to keep the ball out. It looked like a cross more than a shot.
Southampton have barely offered anything in the final third. Austin is simply being left to chase down the United backline when they are in possession. It could be a long afternoon for the visitors.
McTominay has picked up a knock for United and needs some treatment. The Scotland international should be fine to continue, however.
SHOT! Better from the Saints who finally have some of the ball in the United half. A cross is delivered for Vestergaard inside the area, but the centre-back cannot get his effort on target.
More of the same from the Saints who are at least forcing United back into their own half. Bertrand almost gets in down the left-hand side of the penalty area, but Smalling gets across to deal with the danger.
There had been suggestions that Southampton would get over-run by United, but it's an even game now. However, United have just created another chance, only for a defender to get a cross to make a block from Rashford.
It's worth us pointing out that United can move into fourth position with victory this afternoon. That is because Tottenham Hotspur were only able to draw 1-1 with Arsenal earlier today.
Southampton are probably seeing as much of the ball as their hosts right now. United carry the greater threat, but the Saints are finding ways through down either flank.
We are having a bit of a lull in the action at the moment. Southampton are keeping things congested when they do not have the ball.
Southampton do well down the right and a deep cross is aimed towards Bertrand at the back post, but Young gets back to divert the ball behind for a corner.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Southampton (Yann Valery)
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Wow! It's a goal that dreams are made of for Valery. The youngster is given the space to try his luck from 25 yards out and a well-struck swerving effort finds the top corner of De Gea's net!
Solskjaer and his side were certainly not expecting that, and Southampton will argue that they deserve to be ahead after riding out the early storm.
Deliveries to the back post seem to be the plan for Southampton. They are switching the play from side to side on a regular basis.
United are having to be patient with their build-up play, but it isn't really suiting them. Southampton are just waiting to catch them out on the counter.
CHANCE! It should be 1-1. Shaw is played down the left-hand side of the penalty area and the defender pulls the ball back for Lukaku, but the forward miscues an effort with his right foot and the opportunity is lost.
CHANCE! Lukaku is presented with another chance - this time from a Pereira cross - but the Belgian sends his header well wide of the target. In all fairness, the ball was probably a little too high for the frontman.
United are really knocking on the door now, but they don't look sharp in the final third. Southampton are riding their luck.
OFF THE POST! I have no idea how United aren't level. An outswinging corner is met by Smalling, but the defender's header hits the post before bouncing inbetween two of his teammates. The danger is eventually cleared.
Southampton really need half time now. The fact that they remain ahead is a mixture of luck and United failing to take one of a number of chances.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
United are still pressing but nothing like they were 10 minutes ago. Southampton should see out the closing minutes.
HALF TIME: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
The half-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and Southampton have managed to hold on to their 1-0 advantage, which has been earned with a stunning effort from Valery. It was his first goal for Southampton as well! United have it all to do after the break.
Miss the North London derby earlier this afternoon? Don't worry. You can read our on-the-whistle match report by clicking here. It was a dramatic game!
KICKOFF: We are back underway.
Southampton are giving as good as they get at the start of this second half. A quick burst down the right from Redmond almost led to Austin being found inside the area, but the forward was adjudged to have committed a foul.
More injury issues for United. Sanchez has gone down holding his knee inside the area after a coming together with Bednarek, and it looks like the Chilean will need to be substituted.
It looks like a decision will be delayed regarding Sanchez's participation. United aren't exactly full of options on the bench.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Southampton (Andreas Pereira)
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It has taken a lot for much trust to be placed in Pereira at Old Trafford, but the Brazilian has took his chance this afternoon. The playmaker was gifted space around 25 yards out and proceeded to find the top corner of Gunn's net with a glorious effort.
Fair play to Southampton, who have gone straight onto the attack since United's leveller. Redmond just reached the byline, but De Gea was able to see off the danger at his near post.
Before that goal, United did move to make the substitution with Dalot the man to replace Sanchez.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Southampton (Romelu Lukaku)
The turnaround is complete! Pereira passes to Lukaku in the area and after switching the ball onto his right foot, the Belgian manages to find the far bottom corner with a low effort from 12 yards out.
That goal is harsh on Southampton, but they took a risk with continuing to push men forward and it did not pay off. Hasenhuttl may begin to consider a change.
SHOT! Southampton again attempt an immediate response and a well-constructed move leads to a shot on goal from Hojbjerg, but the midfielder's effort goes well off target.
SUBSTITUTION! A first Southampton change sees Austin replaced by Armstrong.
SHOT! Dalot has made a positive contribution since his introduction, but the Portuguese just fails to find the target with a decent effort from distance.
Solskjaer is very animated on the touchline. The Norwegian knows that his side have not got this game under control just yet. Don't be surprised to see Fred introduced at some stage.
Just the 20 minutes to go now. There is definitely more space for United to exploit, but the home side are struggling to find the balance between pushing for a third and defending this lead.
Young concedes a free kick on the edge of the area, and it gives Southampton the chance to get a shot on goal. Ward-Prowse will take it, we think.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Southampton (James Ward-Prowse)
There was a lengthy delay while Young and a Southampton player received treatment, but this goal is worth the wait. Ward-Prowse makes the perfect connection with his curling effort from 25 yards, and the Englishman finds the top corner of De Gea's net. The goalkeeper had no chance!
We have some game on our hands now. Southampton have barely taken a backwards step since the restart, and they have been rewarded. The onus is now on United to go and get a third.
Both managers are holding fire with their substitutions for the time being. Southampton are continuing to play on the counter but they are having plenty of joy using that tactic.
SUBSTITUTION! Solskjaer moves to make a second switch with Fred replacing Pereira, who has been excellent.
It's a strange alteration from Solskjaer. It was one which needed to be made at 2-1. Southampton, however, continue to pile the pressure on the home side.
SHOT! Southampton have had two corners in as many minutes, while Vestergaard has just hooked a volley wide of the far post. This is so bold from the Saints and from boss Hasenhuttl.
Better from United who almost use their possession to set up Lukaku with a through-ball, but the final pass had just too much pace on it.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-2 Southampton (Romelu Lukaku)
United retake the lead and once again, we have another very good goal. The ball fell kindly for Lukaku on the edge of the area, and the Belgian proceeded to turn and lash a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner with his right foot.
There will be five minutes of added-on time.
Southampton are pushing forward in search of what feels like an unthinkable third goal, but don't write them off just yet. Gallagher has also been introduced into the action.
PENALTY! Maybe write them off now. Armstrong clips Rashford inside the area and it is an easy decision for the referee.
CHANCE! Game on! Pogba sends the ball down the middle but Gunn sticks out a leg to keep the Frenchman's effort out!
SUBSTITUTION! United make a late change with Chong coming on for Rashford.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 3-2 Southampton
The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and United have registered a 3-2 triumph over a valiant Southampton side. The result is harsh on the visitors, but United move into fourth position in the Premier League table.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
