Southampton 1-1 Man United: Three key performances from Saints players

Tino Livramento

There have been very few home Premier League debuts in recent Southampton history which even come close to the impact made by Tino Livramento against Manchester United. Factor in that he is keeping one of Saints brightest sparks from last season, Kyle Walker-Peters out of the starting eleven. Now consider that he is just 18 years old. Finally, add in that he was playing against several world class players, having only made his professional debut last week.

When you consider the above, it is almost impossible to overstate how good the young full back was in the most testing of conditions. Equally capable defensively or charging forward, there was a buzz around the stadium every time Livramento touched the ball. One barnstorming, Bale-esque run saw him run 70 metres with the ball whilst simultaneously successfully fending off the unwanted advances of an ineffectual Fred.

Whilst Livramento is roughly 5ft 8, there is something imposing in stature about the former Chelsea academy star. There is a wiriness about him, a hidden strength which gives him a physical edge in the challenge and it was evident that United were surprised by his willingness to engage, even in more central areas.

It was also evident that Livramento has an instinctive sense when it comes to defensive positioning, backed up by recording six interceptions and five ball recoveries (source: Sky Sports). At just £5 million, a steal in this day and age, the world is at his feet if he continues on this impressive trajectory. Although many fans will be wary of the alleged buy back clause, it may well be a case of just enjoying the youngster as he develops and improves – make no mistake, Livramento will play at the very highest level one day.