Despite Amorim's appointment not immediately returning Manchester United to the championship race, the Red Devils always manage to create surprises in strong matchups. In the midweek FA Cup third round elimination match, Manchester United eliminated their long-time rival Arsenal while playing with ten men for a long time. After a few days of rest, Manchester United welcomed the 21st round of the Premier League, hosting newly promoted Southampton at Old Trafford.
The Saints can be considered the weakest team in the top five leagues, having only earned 6 points after 20 rounds, with no wins in the last 10 rounds, and long-term at the bottom of the league table, almost securing a relegation spot. Adding to this, in the last 16 encounters, Manchester United has maintained an unbeaten record with 9 wins and 7 draws, giving them a significant psychological advantage. In this match, Ugart scored an own goal, Anthony missed an open goal, and Diallo performed a hat-trick, resulting in a 3-1 victory that ended Manchester United's four-game winless streak!
Despite the tight schedule, Amorim still fielded most of the main players and set up the usual 3421 formation, with Hoyerun as the center forward, B fee and Garnacho forming the double attacking midfield, Diallo and Mazravi flying on both wings in midfield, Ugart and Menu stationed in the middle, Martinez, Yueluo, and De Ligt forming the three central defenders, and Onana guarding the goal.
After the game started, the home team Manchester United did not quickly take control, but it was the Saints who took the initiative first. In the 11th minute, Sulaimana broke through on the left flank, skillfully turned in the penalty area to shake off Yueluo's defense, and forced a shot from a narrow angle, which was brilliantly saved by Onana.
In the 20th minute, Manchester United launched a sharp counterattack, with Hoyerun breaking into the penalty area from the left flank and sending a reverse triangle pass to the front of the goal. Garnacho, unmarked, pushed the ball wide, wasting a great opportunity. In the 25th minute, Garnacho's central breakthrough shot was blocked, followed by a melee, with Diallo actively pressing forward, causing Peter's handball in the penalty area, but the referee refused to award a penalty.
Two minutes later, Southampton almost took the lead, with Diblin turning gracefully to break through and driving straight into the penalty area, where his low single-handed shot was saved by Onana, and Fernandes' follow-up shot at the door was also heroically resolved by the former, leaving Manchester United's goal in turmoil.
In the 35th minute, Menu's charge was easily bypassed, and Sulaimana rode solo into the penalty area, dribbling sideways and shooting low, narrowly missing the post, with the Saints' attacks coming in waves. In the 43rd minute, during the corner kick attack by the Saints, Diblin made a valiant attempt to head the ball across, but Yueluo's clearance was ineffective, and the ball hit Ugart's back and went into the net, leaving Manchester United trailing 0-1.
After the break, Amorim made consecutive substitutions, with Anthony and Zirkze coming on one after another. In the 57th minute, Manchester United's defense appeared vulnerable again, with Sulaimana "eating alive" Yueluo on the left flank and breaking into the penalty area, where his powerful shot from a narrow angle narrowly missed. Having escaped a disaster, Manchester United had a chance to equalize two minutes later when Garnacho crossed from the left side of the penalty area, and Anthony failed to score from just 3 meters out!
It must be said that Anthony's shot was harder to miss than to score, causing Manchester United fans to shake their heads repeatedly, confirming his reputation as a hundred-million-dollar flop.
In the 65th minute, Manchester United once again had a good chance to score, with Zirkze making a big stride into the penalty area, but his final shot was weak and powerless, and was blocked by the Southampton defender again.
In the 82nd minute, Manchester United finally equalized the score: Zirkze advanced and shifted to the right flank, where Diallo displayed his individual ability, cutting inside and shooting, which was blocked, before he followed up to score, with Messi's little fan saving the Red Devils again, 1-1!
In the 90th minute, Diallo continued his efforts, cutting inside from the right flank and crossing horizontally, then receiving Eriksen's overhead long pass and scoring with a sliding shot in front of the goal, performing a brace, 2-1. In the 94th minute, Diallo scored again, completing his hat-trick, 3-1! Manchester United staged a thrilling comeback and won all three points without any danger, ending their four-game winless streak in the league.