Start as you mean to go on - could dropped early points cost Manchester United?

The Red Devils have already fallen back on their same old weaknesses in the first weeks of the new season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Credit: Getty.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Credit: Getty.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Credit: Getty.

It’s been a well rehearsed saying from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in recent years: “You can’t win the league by Christmas, but you can lose it.”

And it’s results like Sunday’s that indicate why Manchester United haven’t been involved in a full-blown title hunt since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

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Last season, the Red Devils lost three of their opening six Premier League games, the year prior they won just two of the first nine, while in 2018/19 United picked up 10 points from the maiden seven outings.

In comparison, Manchester City won 13 of the first 15 that season, while 12 months later Liverpool had only dropped two points by the start of February. Of course, both went on to win the title in those respective seasons.

It’s a reoccurring theme with United in recent years to be well out reach in the title race before a third of the campaign has been played. The Red Devils repeatedly find themselves in the starting blocks well after the gun has sounded.

This isn’t to jump to too many conclusions after one subpar performance, and against Southampton there were moments when Solskjaer’s side took the initiative and forced the hosts into some last-ditch defending. But facing a side many have tipped for relegation this season, United struggled to match their determination and tempo.

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A midfield pair of Fred and Nemanja Matic is unlikely to grace a Premier League ground again this season, certainly not against a side who press which such intensity, while Anthony Martial played his all-too-familiar role of semi-interested bystander on the south coast.

It was an afternoon to forget for Fred. Credit: Getty.It was an afternoon to forget for Fred. Credit: Getty.
It was an afternoon to forget for Fred. Credit: Getty.

At the back, David De Gea, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire all demonstrated their share of ropy moments, while again United had to rely on moments of magic at the other end of the pitch in order to get a result.

With Bruno Fernandes having something of an off day, it was Paul Pogba who provided the spark and set up Mason Greenwood’s second-half goal following a lovely piece of interplay with the two aforementioned attackers.

Yet after such a positive opening to the second period, the Red Devils again failed to take a real grip of proceedings and Southampton looked much more threatening in the latter stages.

Paul Pogba shone on a frustrating afternoon for United. Credit: Getty.Paul Pogba shone on a frustrating afternoon for United. Credit: Getty.
Paul Pogba shone on a frustrating afternoon for United. Credit: Getty.
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Solskjaer should also be concerned at how easily his side were cut open, especially in the first half, and throughout the season Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse will experience few such amenable midfield battles as the one they encountered on Sunday.

Off days can be expected - City demonstrated that last week - but already after two games United find themselves trailing a title rival in Liverpool, while Chelsea at the time of writing look set to continue their 100% start.

Sunday’s showing at St Mary’s won’t decide where the title ends up, nor will Liverpool’s win over Burnley, or City’s triumph over Norwich City, but it’s results like these which have cost United in the past and if they have any real hopes of the Premier League crown coming to Old Trafford, demonstrating almost no creaks in their armor is required.

It’s a long campaign, yet you get the overriding sense still that the 2021/22 champions will come away from Southampton with all three points this season.