Player ratings: Amad sublime but two player only get 3/10 in Man Utd win over Southampton
Fixtures/ResultsThursday, 16 January 2025 at 23:32
Amad Diallo delivered a late masterclass to rescue Manchester United with three goals in the final moments of a 3-1 victory over Southampton.
United fell behind after conceding yet another set piece as Tyler Dibling’s near-post flick deflected off Manuel Ugarte and into the net.
But Amad equalized with just eight minutes of normal time remaining, added a second in the 90th minute, and completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to secure a dramatic win for the Red Devils.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Player Ratings
Andre Onana – 7
Made a crucial double save at 0-0 that kept United in the game. His performance underlined his importance, even as the team struggled defensively.
Matthijs de Ligt – 5
Had a difficult night, with his lack of pace exposed by Southampton’s energetic attack. A step backward for the usually reliable defender.
Leny Yoro – 3
A tough outing for the young center-back as Kamaldeen Sulemana repeatedly got the better of him. A steep learning curve for the new signing.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Far from his combative best, Martinez struggled to impose himself, and United’s defensive structure looked vulnerable throughout.
Amad – 8
Started on the right wing in Diogo Dalot’s absence and endured a frustrating night until the late stages. His equalizer sparked a stunning comeback, and his hat-trick cemented him as the match-winner.
Manuel Ugarte – 5
Unfortunate to score an own goal and struggled to provide stability in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo – 4
Missed a clear opportunity at 0-0 and failed to impact the game before being substituted at halftime.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
Offered little in attack from the left wing and was kept on far too long, given United’s need for creativity.
Alejandro Garnacho – 5
Wasted a great chance from Rasmus Hojlund’s pull-back and delivered an inconsistent performance. Showed moments of promise but lacked sharpness in key moments.
Bruno Fernandes – 4
Lost composure in the first half, contributing to United’s disjointed play. His decision-making suffered as frustration mounted.
Rasmus Hojlund – 3
A poor showing from the young striker, who struggled to make an impact apart from one decent assist for Garnacho.
Substitutes
Antony – 5
Missed a sitter from six yards with the goal wide open, continuing his underwhelming form.
Joshua Zirkzee – 8
A game-changer off the bench. Held up the ball well, linked play effectively, and contributed significantly to the comeback.
Toby Collyer – 6
Added much-needed energy to the midfield after coming on.
Harry Maguire – 6
Helped stabilize the defense when brought on at 1-1.
Christian Eriksen – 8
Played a brilliant assist and should have been introduced earlier. Brought much-needed composure to the midfield.
Manager – 5
Ruben Amorim made questionable decisions by starting Rasmus Hojlund and keeping him on too long. However, the substitutions ultimately worked, with Zirkzee playing a key role in the comeback.
Manchester United may have secured the three points, but the performance left much to be desired.
Amad’s brilliance and Onana’s crucial saves papered over cracks in an otherwise underwhelming display. The Red Devils will need to address these issues quickly as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead.
