From a 9-0 drubbing in February to honours even in August. Football moves quickly and, with some pride restored for Southampton, whose manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, greeted a first point of the season like a victory, it was an afternoon which also prompted familiar questions for Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
An away draw to equal an all-time Premier League record of 27 straight games unbeaten on the road is hardly cause for despair but, having dismantled Leeds 5-1 last week, this was arguably an even more significant chance to make a statement of intent for the season ahead.
United had fought back from the concession of a controversial early goal to equalise through Mason Greenwood but then, with the game at their mercy, faltered inexplicably and only averted defeat when Adam Armstrong missed two late chances.
Even Solskjaer, whose glass is usually half-full, rued how his team “lost our way” and offered up “maybe tiredness and sloppiness” as potential explanations.
“We gave their crowd something to cheer about and they had some dangerous moments,” he said.
United will clearly improve when Edinson Cavani returns and their new signings settle, but this only reinforced a feeling that they will again struggle to deliver a serious title challenge.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have got used to winning the biggest trophies since Alex Ferguson departed the main stage in 2013 and, having got Southampton on the ropes, it would have been hard to imagine any of those three not landing the knockout blow.
Central midfield looked like United’s area of greatest concern and, with Nemanja Matic rather than Scott McTominay paired alongside Fred, there was a distinctly workmanlike feel to much of their play.
With new signings Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane on United’s bench, Hasenhuttl named two defensive regulars – Kyle Walker-Peters and Jan Bednarek – among the Southampton substitutes.
It meant a different back four from most of last season and a lack of familiarity felt significant early on as Southampton wobbled.
A cross by Bruno Fernandes first bounced up off Paul Pogba and onto the crossbar, with Mohammed Salisu then producing a goal-line clearance to deny Anthony Martial.
One home fan was holding a sign which read, “JWP thanks for staying – loyalty matters” and, with captain James Ward-Prowse leading by example after signing a five-year contract last week, Southampton began finding the tempo that is their hallmark under Hasenhuttl.
Armstrong was supporting Che Adams in his pressing of Harry Maguire and, while United complained loudly, a greater acceptance this season from referees of a more physical approach was evident.
Jack Stephens stepped in front of Fernandes to win back possession and, following a quick exchange of passes between Moussa Djenepo, Armstrong and then Adams while United appealed for a foul, the ball nestled into the corner of David de Gea’s goal. Replays confirmed a decisive deflection off Fred following Adams’s shot. The hosts might have doubled their lead when Tino Livramento, their new 18-year-old full-back from Chelsea, surged down the right but saw his cross narrowly evade Armstrong.
Hasenhuttl later described Livramento as one of England’s best young players.
“He has everything, the physique, speed, quality on the ball and the right mindset,” he said.
Southampton switched to five at the back at half-time but remained defensively fragile and, after 55 minutes, United produced the equaliser that their control of possession had increasingly threatened.
Pogba was the creator, linking with Fernandes before teeing up Greenwood, whose effort squirmed through the legs of Salisu and Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
With Sancho coming on and Greenwood moving to a more central striker’s position, United created a further flurry of chances.
Pogba shot just wide and Fernandes had a header blocked by McCarthy before a mistake by Maguire gift-wrapped Armstrong a clear sight of goal. De Gea saved but Saints forced a corner from which Armstrong was unable to head them to victory.
Hasenhuttl still greeted the final whistle with a clenched fist and a cry of “yes”.
He was later asked about his new touchline look – waistcoat, trousers and sparkling white trainers – in place of the usual tracksuit.
“When it brings (points), I’ll do anything – bathing shorts or Speedos,” the Austrian replied.
Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]