Southampton 2-3 Manchester United: Player Ratings as Super Sub Edinson Cavani Seals Comeback Win

Manchester United came back from the dead to claim a dramatic win over Southampton, as Edinson Cavani proved his worth yet again with a double the bench.

A first half dominated by James Ward-Prowse doing James Ward-Prowse things saw the Southampton captain pick out Jan Bednarek with a corner before finding the corner of the net himself with a free-kick, and United looked on the ropes.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rung in the changes at the break with Cavani thrown on to replace Mason Greenwood, and it was Bruno Fernandes who got the comeback started with a bundled finish from the Uruguayan's cross.

Cavani was desperate to prove a point and did so with 15 minutes remaining as he was on hand to convert following a rebound.

From here it only looked as if there was going to be one winner. And deep into stoppage time, so it proved. Marcus Rashford found the head of the Uruguayan with a wonderful cross and the rest was history.

Let's get into some player ratings!

Southampton

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Alex McCarthy (GK) - 6/10 - Couple of really shaky moments in the first half could have cost Southampton and set the tone for a nervy performance from the keeper.

Kyle Walker-Peters (RB) - 7/10 - Took advantage of United's narrow midfield corridor to take off on frequent bursts down the right wing and even smacked the post in the first half.

Jan Bednarek (CB) - 7/10 - Spent all afternoon in the wars, aggressive presence in both boxes and was repaid for his bravery with the opening goal - his third for Southampton.

Jannik Vestergaard (CB) - 5/10 - Very, very tall. Not much else to add.

Ryan Bertrand (LB) - 6/10 - Marshalled his flank fairly well but wasn't tested much with little happening in front of him.

2. Midfielders

Stuart Armstrong (RM) - 6/10 - Showed his usual drive and endeavour down the right wing but faded out as the game wore on. Seemed knackered by the final whistle.

James Ward-Prowse (CM) - 7/10 - Caused the customary havoc with his set-pieces and was all over the place in midfield throughout. Added to his highlight reel with a perfectly placed free-kick.

Oriol Romeu (CM) - 6/10 - Easily the most limited of Southampton's midfielders but key to the dirty side of their midfield play nonetheless.

Moussa Djenepo (LM) - 6/10 - Enjoyed one of his better games in a Saints shirt but still drifted in and out. To be expected with his side defending a lead for the majority however.

3. Forwards

Theo Walcott (CF) - 7/10 - Switched between the centre-forward and wide left roles and caused problems in each. Growing in importance for Southampton with every passing week.

Che Adams (CF) - 6/10 - Unusually quiet but served his function in holding the play up and offering an out-ball when required.

4. Substitutes

Shane Long (CF) - 6/10

Manchester United

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

David de Gea (GK) - 6/10 - Could have done better on the first goal but couldn't touch Ward-Prowse's pinpoint free-kick in his wildest dreams. Withdrawn at half-time with injury.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) - 6/10 - Coped reasonably well with Djenepo and showed in flashes why he is England's best right-back defensively.

Victor Lindelof (CB) - 5/10 - Didn't do much wrong but marking was iffy on a few occasions and he was generally unimposing.

Harry Maguire (CB) - 6/10 - Responsible for commanding the back line but there wasn't much sign of it here. Might have been relieved he wasn't facing Danny Ings but had a job on his hands with Theo Walcott.

Alex Telles (LB) - 6/10 - Bright down the left and reasonable defensively without pulling up any trees.

6. Midfielders

Nemanja Matic (DM) - 6/10 - Seemed to get crowded out in a packed midfield and was bypassed in most phases of play. Did okay though and provided cover for a defence that needed it.

Fred (CM) - 5/10 - Was allegedly playing but you wouldn't have noticed.

Donny van de Beek (CM) - 6/10 - Regressed from his masterclass on Thursday evening in a game where United's midfield lacked any sort of cohesion or control - for 70 minutes at least. Grew into it towards the whistle and began to look like the player he is.

Bruno Fernandes (AM) - 7/10 - Cut a frustrated figure at the point of the United diamond and went close with a great early strike. Was later denied by a scrambling McCarthy but made up for it with the goal that got his side back into the game.

7. Forwards

Marcus Rashford (CF) - 7/10 - Caused some problems but fluffed the couple of real chances that came his way. Could have set Cavani up for a tap-in early in the second half but went himself and hit the keeper. Eventually atoned with a great cross for the winner.

Mason Greenwood (CF) - 5/10 - Summed up United's first half when he took the ball around McCarthy and then hit the side netting. Lively on his return to the team but lacking sharpness in front of goal and was taken off for Cavani at the break.

8. Substitutes

Dean Henderson (GK) - 6/10

Edinson Cavani (CF) - 8/10

Brandon Williams (LB) - N/A