Dean Henderson is out warming up at half-time. Better safe than sorry.

Among English players, only David Beckham (18) has ever scored more direct free-kicks in the Premier League than Southampton's James Ward-Prowse (9 - now level with Frank Lampard and Jamie Redknapp).

Of the last five occasions a player has scored from a direct-free kick and provided an assist from a dead-ball situation in a single Premier League game, three have been courtesy of Ward-Prowse (also vs West Brom in 2017-18 and Aston Villa in 2020-21).

Image source, Getty Images

M Heath: Lets take nothing away from Southampton. They are looking the real deal so far this season. Not sure they will have enough in the tank to challenge a top 4 spot, but top 6 is looking increasingly achievable

Phil Bayley: It's going to be difficult to play well when only one team is expected to respect the rules. United are getting kicked all over the pitch.

Daniel Quirk: Arsenal aren’t even playing and they’ve just gone above us in the table. How embarrassing

Goals change games.

Up until Southampton's first goal, Man Utd were the better side. From the moment they fell behind, the visitors have been distinctly second best.

Most damning is the fact that Saints didn't have to work that hard for either goal, although granted Ward-Prowse's free-kick was good.

Image source, Getty Images

M: Fred reminds me of Chris Smalling in a lot of ways. Often has a really good game which deceives you in to thinking he's good enough to play at this level but is ultimately out of his depth at a club of United's prestige.

Mark Burt: C’mon chin up Reds fans. It’s not the end of the world for Man Utd. With a bit of luck and a couple of decent signings mid-table obscurity is definitely a possibility

Regular Jon: Under Fergie you knew there was still a chance of a 3-2 win from 2-0 down at HT. Did it so many times. This team will be lucky to have 3 more shots on goal

Manchester United win another corner as Rashford shows willing to drive to the right byline. Telles delivers and the ball is half-cleared to the edge of the box for an effort from Fred that he fails to properly connect with.

Soon after, Rashford goes down in the box after skipping through a couple of challenges, but it is never a penalty.

Image source, Getty Images

Che Adams is down nursing his foot after a heavy tackle from Fred, who caught him with his follow-through.

United are handed a corner by poor control from Stuart Armstrong but they unable to make anything of it after taking it short.

They haven't really recovered from going behind.

Roger: I don't understand why you don't put a defender on the post for these free kicks, you're not playing anybody inside if he's always going for it

Joe Collet-Cramp: James Ward-Prowse needs to be a first choice for England against weaker sides. Best set piece delivery in the country, would be invaluable against teams who sit deep and restrict chances from open play. Superb all round technical ability.

Aaron Gulliver: Can we all agree now that Manchester United are just an average team

Donny van de Beek tries to get United going, cushioning a header down that is intended for Marcus Rashford but instead is gathered by Alex McCarthy.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, Southampton are sitting pretty now. They're stroking the ball across their own backline, challenging United to chase. Down the other end, Djenepo is looking dangerous every time the ball reaches him.

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

You don't expect anything less. It's a wonderful free-kick.

He has got it over the wall, there's pace on it. David De Gea is at full stretch and he's hurt himself as he's trying to get across. It's so quick the ball is alread behind his hand.

You just cannot give away set-plays and now you're 2-0 down against a strong, competitive Southampton side.

It is De Gea's left knee that took the blow from the post. It looks like he is going to try and continue, but he does not look good. Grimacing.

Image source, Getty Images

Nathan House: United been punished for being wasteful, again. Zero end product in the final third. Awful goal to concede too. 22 minutes of promising passages and we’re behind. Uphill task from here. Draw would be a good result for United now, doesn’t help catching the top 4 mind

Paul Collins: Solskjaer is the most timid manager in the Premier League. It doesn't matter how well or how poorly utd are doing he just sits there in silence on the bench looking lost. He wouldn't inspire confidence in anyone

Micheal Reid: Classic United performance so far. Looking decent going forward, forever getting done at the back.

Could so easily be 3-0. Djenepo drives forward and sees a shot saved by De Gea. Armstrong has pretty much an empty net in front of him but fluffs his effort wide.

De Gea is not in a good way here. I think that collision with the post may have done for him.

Here we go. James Ward-Prowse territory.

Moussa Djenepo is taken down on the edge of the box by Fred. JWP grabs the ball immediately...

Superb double save from McCarthy!

He had to make them too, as it was his error that presented the chances to United with a sloppy pass. Mason Greenwood charges into the box after being handed the ball and sees his shot saved by the Saints keeper, who is then up quickly to dive again and block Bruno Fernandes' follow-up.

Image source, Getty Images

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Southampton have gone to another level now.

The last 10 minutes it has been all Southampton.

Momentum has completely swung.

Saints go close to doubling their lead as Kyle Walker-Peters' shot deflects just past the far post.

Ward-Prwose delivers another wicked corner to the near post but this time the United defence is able to head clear.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Southampton - with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl living every kick of this - had just started to settle before going ahead.

Saints will be delighted with the set piece but that is a cheap goal from Manchester United’s point of view.