Manchester United welcomed Southampton to Old Trafford on Friday night looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second league goal of the season saw the home side take a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Ibrahimovic then scored a second from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute as the Red Devils recorded all the points on what was Jose Mourinho's home debut as head coach.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.01pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage for the 2016-17 campaign continues from Old Trafford as Manchester United welcome Southampton. Jose Mourinho will be officially introduced to the Old Trafford faithful tonight and the Portuguese will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League. Southampton, though, have won on each of their last two visits to the Theatre of Dreams!
7.04pmTonight will be the 119th meeting between Man United and Southampton in all competitions. The Red Devils have won 61 of the previous 118, with Southampton recording 28 victories and the further 29 matches finishing level. As mentioned, the Saints have recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins at Old Trafford in the Premier League and are actually unbeaten in their last three visits to this ground.
7.05pmBREAKING! Paul Pogba starts for Man United tonight! Shut down the internet!
#POGBACK pic.twitter.com/q6oXpufbdm
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2016
7.07pmSo, as you may have gathered, Pogba makes his second debut for Man United tonight. What a lift for the supporters ahead of kickoff. The Frenchman has replaced Ander Herrera in the only change from the 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend, which means that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly will both also make their home Premier League debuts. Full team news to follow in the next few moments...
7.10pmTEAMS!
UNITED: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Pogba; Mata, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic
SAINTS: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett; Davis, Romeu, Hojbjerg; Tadic, Long, Redmond
7.13pmAs mentioned, just the one change for Man United tonight as Pogba replaces Herrera. Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata both keep their spots in midfield, while Wayne Rooney will once again operate behind Ibrahimovic, who will be looking to make it three games in three competitive appearances.
7.16pmSouthampton, meanwhile, have made two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Watford last weekend. Jose Fonte, a reported Man United target, returns to the back four in place of Maya Yoshida and summer signing from Bayern Munich Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg replaces James Ward-Prowse in midfield. Nathan Redmond will once again operate in the final third alongside Shane Long and Dusan Tadic.
© Getty Images
7.19pmIncredibly, Man United have not beaten Southampton at Old Trafford in the Premier League since January 2013, but they have won on each of their last two visits to St Mary's – including a 3-2 success last term when a certain Anthony Martial stole the show. Both of these teams have new managers this term and both will be desperate to make a strong start to Week Two in the league.
7.22pmSo there we have it. The two teams are confirmed and we are now just under 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Manchester. I shall speak about Southampton a little bit later, but let's start with the hosts, who opened their Premier League challenge with an impressive 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday in what was Mourinho's first league game in charge of the Red Devils.
7.25pmOne week previous, Man United had won the Community Shield with a 2-1 success over Premier League champions Leicester City and they also started their league season in impressive style. Indeed, goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw the 20-time English champions claim a 3-0 lead early in the second period, before Adam Smith hit back for Bournemouth.
Some great pics from yesterday's win! 📷 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/syYwWt7cVh
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 15, 2016
7.28pmIt was actually a fairly short pre-season for Man United, who beat Wigan Athletic and Galatasaray, in addition to losing to Borussia Dortmund and drawing with Everton in Rooney's testimonial. They have not played too much football since winning the FA Cup against Crystal Palace last May in what was Louis van Gaal's final game in charge of the club. The Dutchman was never going to last!
7.32pmMourinho targeted four new players in this summer's transfer window and has been able to secure all of his top targets. Ibrahimovic, who has two in two games for the Red Devils, arrived on a free transfer, while Bailly and Mkhitaryan also both joined the squad for the 2016-17 campaign.
7.35pmIt was the signing of a certain Pogba that captured the attention, however, with the France international re-joining Man United for a world-record fee, just four years after leaving on a free transfer for Juventus. Pogba only played seven first-team games for Man United in his first spell, but the 23-year-old will now hope to build a legacy after returning to English football. He starts tonight!
© Getty Images
7.38pmIn terms of what is ahead for Man United, they will take on Hull City in their third Premier League match next weekend, before the small matter of the Manchester derby with Manchester City - some occasion that will be - on September 10. Then comes a trip to Watford, before rounding off the month of September with a home game against the reigning Premier League champions Leicester.
7.42pmSouthampton, meanwhile, opened their Premier League season with a 1-1 draw against Watford on Saturday afternoon. It was Redmond, on his debut, that secured a point for the Saints, who are now under the management of former Nice boss Claude Puel, who has replaced Ronald Koeman at the helm.
7.45pmKoeman led Southampton to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League table last season, but the Dutchman has since left for Everton and more key players have been sold in this summer's transfer window – Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama among those that have sought pastures new.
Same again, Dušan? #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/8Qn88ddgQ0
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 19, 2016
7.48pmPuel has managed to bring in Hojbjerg from Bayern, however, in addition to Redmond, Jeremy Pied and Alex McCarthy. It could well be a difficult season for the Saints, especially as they are reportedly fighting to hold onto captain Fonte, who has been linked with Man United over the last week or so.
7.52pmIn terms of what is ahead for the Saints, they will host Sunderland in their third Premier League match next weekend, before travelling to Arsenal straight after the international break. They then host Swansea City and travel to West Ham United in their final two games of September. You just get the feeling that the Hampshire outfit need to make a positive start to the campaign.
7.55pmA reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...
UNITED: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Pogba; Mata, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic
SAINTS: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett; Davis, Romeu, Hojbjerg; Tadic, Long, Redmond
7.58pmPREDICTION! I fancy Man United to triumph tonight. Southampton have never won three consecutive league games at Old Trafford and I am struggling to make a case for the away side here. It might well be a tight and bitty game for long spells, but I am backing the hosts to record a 2-0 success.
0 minKICKOFF! Man United kick things off at Old Trafford tonight...
2 min... nervy moment for Pogba as the midfielder loses possession with his first touch and Southampton immediately look dangerous on the break. Indeed, the visitors have a free kick just outside the box...
2 min... Tadic strikes, but his effort is straight into the wall. Should have done better there!
3 minIt has been a decent start from the away side as they enjoy possession in the Man United half of the field. Pogba rises to meet a high ball in his own half and the crowd are absolutely loving it!
5 minSuper work from Valencia as the right-back drives down the wing for Man United before attempting to deliver, but Targett is on hand to clear for a corner, which Long rises to head clear of the box.
7 minPogba dinks a super pass into Ibrahimovic as Man United look to threaten once again, but the Swedish striker was just in an offside position. Southampton are not afraid to move the ball from left to right, but they need to be careful. This Man United team is absolutely full of pace and power.
9 minSouthampton have a real problem here as Romeu hits the deck and stays there. The former Barcelona midfielder is clearly in some discomfort and might not be able to continue in this game.
11 minRomeu is back on his feet and it does appear that he will continue, which is quite a turnaround. He was in all sorts of bother when he first hit the deck. Back to the action, Man United have control of the possession as they continue to build from a deep area, but no clear chances to report thus far.
11 minNo, Romeu is struggling again. Surely he is going to have to be replaced.
12 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB! Change is made as Clasie replaces Romeu.
13 minPogba continues to pick up possession and deliver into the Southampton box, but Fonte and Van Dijk have been nice and solid inside the opening 13 minutes of this match. Man United are on top, although there have been no opportunities to report. Mata is very, very involved at the moment.
14 minSAVE! Pogba curls one towards the top corner, but Forster is across to save!
16 minHalf-chance for Southampton as the ball falls for Tadic inside the Man United box, but his effort is over the crossbar under pressure from Blind. Both teams are dangerous in the final third here.
18 minAll the talk before this match was about Pogba and Man United, but Southampton are a very good team and they are showing that in the opening 18 minutes as they continue to enjoy good possession.
19 minCHANCE! Super chance for Southampton as Redmond breaks into a wide position and looks to pick out Tadic at the far post, but his cross just had too much weight on it!
21 minHalf-chance for Man United as Shaw does brilliantly down the left and eventually finds Rooney, but the England captain's cross is straight into the arms of Forster, who just settles his team down.
23 minYou just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital tonight. Man United look dangerous whenever they break forward, but Southampton could well be one goal ahead here. It must be said that the opening 23 minutes of this game have flown past. It has been very watchable.
25 minSouthampton force another free kick in the Man United half as Bailly dives into Long...
26 min... CLOSE! Davis clips the ball into the Man United box and eventually Long turns and strikes towards the bottom corner, but his effort is just wide of the post. Very close indeed.
28 minValencia has time and space down the right, but cannot pick out Mata and groans arrive from the crowd. Long looks to race away for the visitors, only to find Fellaini flying across to challenge.
29 minCHANCE! Wonderful football from Man United as Mata flicks a Pogba pass into Ibrahimovic, but the Swede's over-head kick is just wide of the far post. That would have been some goal!
30 minIbrahimovic delivers towards the far post as Southampton show the first signs of being over-run, but there are no takers and the visitors eventually deal with the resulting corner. Still all square here.
33 minCHANCE! Southampton break through as Tadic delivers a super pass into the path of Long, but the striker's effort is straight at De Gea. Should have done much better there!
35 minHalf-chance for Man United as Rooney finds space outside the box, but his effort was always straight into the arms of the Southampton goalkeeper, who has not had an awful lot to do here.
36 minThere is no question that the away side a threat on the counter-attack here as Long, Tadic and Redmond continue to combine in the final third of the field. Man United have some real pace also though and Martial threatens to break towards the Southampton box, but Fonte comes across.
36 minGOAL! Man United 1-0 Southampton (Ibrahimovic)
37 minMan United make the breakthrough in the 36th minute of this match as Rooney delivers a super cross onto the head of Ibrahimovic, who produces a bullet header into the far corner. Brilliant!
39 minThe game might have changed in recent years, but a cross and a header is still my favourite type of goal. So simple and so effective. It helps that Ibrahimovic is an absolute mountain of a man!
42 minPogba has really grown into this match as he continues to battle for possession in the middle of the park. Southampton have played well for long stages of this first period, but they trail to a brilliant header from Ibrahimovic and the home side are now looking to ram home their advantage here.
44 minThe home supporters are in fine voice at the moment and why not! Pogba again does wonderfully well to break through and find Martial, but the Frenchman's cross is cleared by Fonte.
45 minSouthampton have another half-chance as Tadic works the ball towards Davis on the edge of the Man United box, but his effort was always moving high of the crossbar. Good football again.
45 min+1We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
45 min+2HALF-TIME: Man United 1-0 Southampton
8.47pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Man United leading 1-0 courtesy of a brilliant header from Ibrahimovic in the 36th minute of action. Southampton have actually played pretty well tonight, but Ibrahimovic, who else, has made the difference so far!
8.52pmSTATS! Southampton have shaded the possession with 54%, while they have had six attempts, but just one of those was on target. Man United, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their four attempts in the first period. No yellows to report and just 10 fouls - it has been a pretty tame game in that sense!
8.57pmBENCH WATCH! Mourinho has plenty of quality on his bench tonight, with the likes of Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Rashford and Young all available for Man United. Southampton boss Puel, meanwhile, has attacking options in the shape of Austin, Rodriguez and Ward-Prowse. The visitors have already been forced into a change though as Romeu limped off in just the 12th minute to be replaced by Clasie.
9.01pm
HT: #MUFC 1 Southampton 0. Zlatan's header separates the sides at the break. So far, so good! #MUNSOU pic.twitter.com/bfLnJAuUm6
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2016
46 minRESTART! Southampton resume the action at Old Trafford...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as play develops here.
47 minThe first shot of the second period comes from Mata and it lands in the stands!
49 minSouthampton will fancy their chances of causing Man United more problems in this second period and they have started pretty well as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field.
49 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Southampton have the ball in the back of the net as Tadic heads home from inside the box, but the attacker is penalised for a push on Bailly before scoring!
50 minSAVE! Forster gets down to keep out a stinging long-range Martial drive.
51 minPENALTY MAN UNITED!
51 minMan United are awarded a penalty as Clasie brings Shaw to the deck with a trip!
52 minGOAL! Man United 2-0 Southampton (Ibrahimovic, pen)
52 minIbrahimovic finds the bottom corner from the spot to send the home side 2-0 ahead!
54 minSouthampton just need to be careful that they do not concede another in the next couple of minutes or it could start to turn very nasty. Man United are absolutely bossing possession at the moment.
56 minIt would be just like Ibrahimovic to score a hat-trick on his home debut and it will be interesting to see whether the big Swede completes this match. The Red Devils are not back in action until next Saturday, when they travel to Hull City. It has been an excellent start to the new campaign thus far!
59 minHalf-chance for the away side as Redmond finds space at the far post following another dangerous cross into the Man United box, but Mata is on hand to put the Englishman off at the vital moment.
61 minThe match has just turned a little bit scrappy in the last few moments and you just get the feeling that Southampton need a goal back in the next five minutes or so if they are to turn it around. A half-chance arrives when Redmond sets up Clasie, but his wild effort is well wide of the post.
63 minStill no movement on the Man United bench with little over 25 minutes of this game remaining here.
64 minCHANCE! Pogba meets a super corner from Mata, but his header is just too high!
65 minCHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Martial races into the Southampton box before attempting to pick out the bottom corner, but Van Dijk makes a fine block.
66 minCHANCE! Yet another chance for Martial after wonderful work from Ibrahimovic, but the attacker just takes too long and the danger is cleared. Southampton are struggling here.
67 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB! Austin replaces Davis for the visitors.
69 minMartial has been much, much better for the home side in this second period and Southampton just cannot deal with his pace. Ibrahimovic has the chance for a hat-trick as Valencia delivers a wonderful cross towards the far post, but his header is across goal and the flag is raised!
71 minSouthampton, despite struggling in this second period, are still in the game at 2-0 and one goal back in the next five or 10 minutes would set up a very interesting conclusion to this contest.
73 minBetter from Southampton in the last few minutes as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Still no movement on the Man United bench, which is a bit of a surprise at this stage.
75 minCLOSE! Long just misses the far post with a clever header as Southampton continue to threaten in the final third of the field. That was very close to being 2-1 here.
76 minMAN UNITED SUB! Mkhitaryan replaces Mata for Man United.
77 minPogba curls one wide of the far post as he continues to enjoy himself out there.
80 minYou just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match and it would either be game over, or game on in the final stages. Southampton continue to move the ball in the final third here.
82 minMAN UNITED SUB! Ander Herrera replaces Martial for Man United.
84 minSouthampton are the team on the front foot at the moment as they continue to deliver into the Man United box and you sense that the Saints fancy their chances of causing a late stir here!
84 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB! Rodriguez replaces Long for the away side.
86 minPossession football from the home side as they take the sting out of the game.
88 minCLOSE! Tadic fires towards the top corner after a super cross from Targett, but the attacker's effort just misses the post. Southampton have played very well for long stages tonight.
89 minMAN UNITED SUB! Chris Smalling replaces Rooney in Man United's final sub.
90 min+1The fourth official indicates that we will play three added minutes here.
90 min+2Pogba is still full of beans here. He has been excellent on his debut tonight.
90 min+3Mkhitaryan sets up Pogba for a debut goal! No! The Frenchman fires wide of the post!
90 min+4FULL-TIME: Man United 2-0 Southampton
9.53pmSo there we have it. The referee blows the full-time whistle at Old Trafford as Man United run out 2-0 winners over Southampton, who had plenty of the ball but struggled to seriously test De Gea. On his home debut, Ibrahimovic, of course, hit a brace to help his team win. That is just about it from me tonight, but be sure to stick around for the post-match reaction. Until next time!
