Manchester United 0-0 Southampton: Three key players

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United battles with Maya Yoshida and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United battles with Maya Yoshida and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 30: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton battles with Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 30: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton battles with Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on December 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

It feels like I’m saying this every week, but Hojbjerg was excellent yet again today. He faltered – along with the majority of the team – at Wembley on Tuesday but he was back to his best today, and would have been behind Hoedt on my list for MOTM.

Hojbjerg dominated the midfield, making the most tackles and passes of the game, as well as boasting the best passing accuracy. The Danish international looked one of Saints’ most willing runners, often breaking free from the solid backline, looking to make something happen up front.

The ex-Bayern man needs to keep this run of form going to make himself indispensable to manager Mauricio Pellegrino and keep the poor of late Mario Lemina out of the side.