Manchester United sprang a tactical surprise on Saturday, ditching their traditional 4-2-3-1 formation in favor of a more attacking 3-4-2-1 system against Southampton. The bold move paid off as the Red Devils secured a thrilling 3-2 victory, with Ivorian wonderkid Amad Diallo grabbing the headlines with a stunning goal.
United manager Erik ten Hag has been criticized for his conservative approach in recent weeks, but he showed his tactical flexibility with the surprise formation switch. The 3-4-2-1 allowed United to field both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as strikers, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo playing in behind.
The new formation gave United greater attacking impetus, and they created several clear-cut chances in the first half. Rashford opened the scoring with a cool finish, and Martial doubled the lead with a powerful header. Southampton pulled one back through James Ward-Prowse, but Diallo restored United's two-goal advantage with a spectacular solo effort.
Another notable aspect of United's performance was the impressive debut of Facundo Pellistri. The Uruguayan winger, signed from Penarol in 2020, made his first Premier League start and showed glimpses of his potential. Pellistri was lively and direct, and he created several chances for his teammates.
Player Performance Analysis
Amad Diallo (8/10): The Ivorian was the star of the show for United, scoring a stunning goal and creating several chances for his teammates. His pace and trickery caused Southampton all sorts of problems.
Facundo Pellistri (7/10): The Uruguayan winger made a positive debut, showing his pace, directness, and ability to create chances.
Marcus Rashford (7/10): The Englishman scored the opening goal and was a constant threat to the Southampton defense. His movement and finishing were impressive.
Anthony Martial (6/10): The Frenchman scored a good header but was otherwise quiet. He needs to improve his hold-up play and link-up with his teammates.
Bruno Fernandes (5/10): The Portuguese playmaker was not at his best and was substituted in the second half. He needs to find more consistency in his performances.
Overall, United's performance was a mixed bag. They showed great attacking intent and created several chances, but they also looked vulnerable at times, especially in defense. The 3-4-2-1 formation has the potential to be a success, but Ten Hag will need to tweak it to improve the team's defensive solidity.
United's victory over Southampton was a welcome boost after a difficult start to the season. The new formation showed promise, and it will be interesting to see if Ten Hag continues to use it in the coming weeks. The performance of Diallo and Pellistri was also encouraging, and it suggests that United have some exciting young players coming through.
However, United still have some work to do, particularly in defense. They conceded two soft goals against Southampton, and they will need to be more solid if they want to challenge for the title. The 3-4-2-1 formation could help them to achieve that, but it will require all of the players to buy into the system and work hard defensively.