Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice on his home Manchester United debut as Jose Mourinho's side recorded a 2-0 victory over Southampton to make it back-to-back wins at the start of the new Premier League season.
Ibrahimovic headed a Wayne Rooney cross into the bottom corner in the 36th minute, before scoring a penalty early in the second period to ensure that the Red Devils continued their perfect start to the 2016-17 campaign.
The big team news from Manchester came from the home side as France midfielder Paul Pogba was named in Mourinho's starting XI on his return to the 20-time English champions.
There was also a pre-match boost for the visitors as Jose Fonte, a reported Man United target, returned to captain the Saints as they attempted to make it three straight Premier League wins at Old Trafford.
It was Pogba that had the game's first shot on target in the 13th minute after a positive start from the Red Devils, but the midfielder's effort was always comfortable for Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Southampton were also a threat though and Dusan Tadic fired over the crossbar in the 15th minute, before Nathan Redmond delivered a cross towards the far post as both teams enjoyed spells of possession in what was a lively opening to the Friday night fixture in Manchester.
The visitors had another half-chance in the 26th minute when Shane Long turned and struck towards the bottom corner after a dangerous free kick from Steven Davis, but the Irishman's effort just missed the post.
Down the other end, Juan Mata flicked a Pogba pass in to Ibrahimovic, but the Swede's overhead kick just missed the far post, before Long found the palms of David de Gea after a pass from Tadic had sent the forward away.
Man United made the breakthrough 10 minutes before the end of the first period, however, when Rooney delivered a sensational cross onto the head of Ibrahimovic, who found the far corner with a bullet header to make it three goals in three competitive matches since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.
It was the home side that entered the half-time break with a one-goal lead, but Southampton had more of the possession in the opening 45 minutes and Davis fired over De Gea's crossbar at the conclusion of another Saints attack late in the first period.
Southampton had the ball in the back of the Man United net in the 49th minute when Tadic headed past De Gea, but the attacker was in an offside position and it went from bad to worse for the visitors two minutes later as Jordy Clasie conceded a penalty for a trip on Luke Shaw.
Rooney and Mata both stepped aside for spot-kick duty and the opportunity was handed to Ibrahimovic to continue his excellent start, and the Swede simply rolled the ball past Forster to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute.
Southampton continued to threaten, however, and Clasie fired wide of the post just past the hour after a mistake from Ibrahimovic had allowed the lively Redmond to threaten Bailly and Daley Blind once again.
Pogba then rose inside the Southampton box to meet a Mata corner, but the midfielder's effort was just too high, before Martial had a close-range strike blocked en route to goal during a strong period of pressure from the home side.
Ibrahimovic headed across rather than towards goal in the 69th minute, but the visitors were still a threat and Long just missed the far post with a clever header as the final 15 minutes of the contest approached.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ander Herrera were both introduced for the hosts in the latter stages and despite some late pressure from Southampton, it proved to be a comfortable evening for Mourinho, who gave Pogba the full 90 minutes.
Man United will attempt to make it three wins from three when they visit Hull City next Saturday, while Southampton's search for their first victory of the season will continue at home to Sunderland next weekend.
Matt Law
