100% Duels won, 2 blocks: £38m Man Utd star was the best player in his department vs Southampton - view
Manchester United defeated Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League on Thursday.
Amad Diallo proved to be the saviour for Man United once again.
The Saints took an unexpected lead, courtesy of an own goal.
However, a late hat-trick from Diallo helped United snatch victory.
Manager Ruben Amorim opted to rest Harry Maguire and started Leny Yoro.
Yoro was deployed in the right centre-back spot, shifting Matthijs de Ligt to the central position in the back three.
The £38 million-rated star was not as assertive as Maguire and started the game slowly.
However, he improved as the game went on and made some crucial interventions.
De Ligt won all four of his duels and made six clearances.
He also displayed remarkable resilience, recording seven recoveries and two vital goal-saving blocks.
Both blocks came against Kamaldeen Sulemana, who was the most threatening attacking outlet of the visitors.
Sulemana had a brilliant opportunity in the 41st minute to open the deadlock when a scrappy ball fell perfectly into his path.
The forward aimed for goal but De Ligt threw himself in the way, making a fearless block that sent the ball behind for a corner.
Unfortunately for United, Manuel Ugarte conceded an own goal from that set piece.
De Ligt made a similar sliding block in the second half when Sulemana breezed past Yoro with ease.
The defender won back possession in the build-up to the equalising goal.
De Ligt switched to the right centre-back spot after Maguire came on as a late substitute.
He denied Sulemana any space to threaten, employing no-nonsense defending that neutralised the winger.
He was United’s best defender of the evening and played a crucial role in key moments, earning a 7/10 in our post-match ratings.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & FotMob.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .