With Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League ban lifted earlier in the Court of Arbitration for Sports and a fine placed on the 2019 Premier League Champions, the race for the top four was definitely expected to be a heated one.
Manchester United alongside Leicester City and Chelsea are all in the running for the remaining two slots available for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea FC and Leicester City all suffered heavy losses against Sheffield United and Bournemouth respectively all away from home.
This meant that Manchester United have no margin for error as they faced the Saints at Old Trafford.
Manchester United named an unchanged starting eleven for the fifth time in a row. However, it was Southampton who got in front earlier in the game courtesy of a Stuart Armstrong strike in the 12minute of the encounter off the assist of Nathan Redmond.
United quickly recovered immediately, by scoring the equalizer through Marcus Rashford off a Martial assist.
Bruno Fernandes who have being in superb since joining United then provided assist for the goal that looked like the winning goal through Martial who became 7th Frenchman to score 50 goals in the process.
However, Southampton had other ideas as Second half substitute Michael Obafemi scored the equalizer in dramatic fashion in the 97th minute as the Saints left Old Trafford with a point in their bags.
The results looked to have favoured the Blues and the Foxes as both remain ahead of the Red Devils in 3rd and 4th respectively while United remain 5th.
The Blues have acquired 60 points from 35 games while the Foxes have 59 from the same number of games. Manchester United on the other hand are level on points with the Leicester City but are behind only on goal difference.
Michael Obafemi may have thought he did his team a favour on the night but the Republic of Ireland Striker have managed to calm some nerves in West London as long as the UEFA Champions League race is concerned.
What team joins Liverpool and Manchester City for the remaining UEFA Champions League slots?