Rio Ferdinand picks out Man Utd’s new undroppable after win over Southampton
On a night where everything seemed to go Man Utd's way from the second minute onwards, it's perhaps easier to look a cut above.
A red card to Southampton's Alexandre Jankewitz not long after kick-off certainly swung the game firmly in United's favour, but there were still three points to attain.
That said, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side had already been depleted through a number of injuries.
And the Saints' boss bore the face of someone who knew the jig was up as Jankewitz trudged down the Old Trafford tunnel.
Whether he anticipated another 9-0 drubbing at that stage is unlikely, but it quickly became a reality.
For United's players, it was a free for all once Aaron Wan-Bissaka's goal signalled the opening of the flood gates.
It was Luke Shaw's deft cross into the far post which invited his fellow full-back to steam in and break the deadlock.
Soon after, Marcus Rashford doubled the advantage, with Shaw driving into the box before feeding Mason Greenwood, whose cut-back found United's No.10 to sidefoot home.
In doing so, Rashford moved up to 14th in the club's all-time scoring charts, one ahead of Eric Cantona.
The 23-year-old then forced a third, as Jan Bednarek could only help the ball into his own net.
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But the night did not belong to Rashford, nor the impressive Shaw, or the quieter-than-usual Bruno Fernandes, or man of the match McTominay.
No, instead it was down to Edinson Cavani to steal the show, who needed just 45 minutes to pick Southampton apart before being given a well-earned rest.
The Uruguayan put in a shift which resembled the fact he was the oldest player on the field – experience, guile, and an almost effortless ability to make his side tick in the final third.
After 39 minutes of providing the focal point in United's attack, Cavani eventually got his rewards.
Pulling off the back of his unwitting marker, Cavani found the perfect zone of space all striker's crave.
It helped that Shaw was able to curl the ball so delicately into that area, making Cavani's task all the more easier as he headed back across goal to score.
Had it not been for a matter of inches Cavani would have won his side a penalty shortly after, as his charge forward was halted by Kayne Ramsey, though contact was made just outside the box.
As it proved, those final acts capped Cavani's night.
The nature of the evening's proceedings were laid bare when Cavani failed to emerge for the second half, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to rest the 33-year-old's legs.
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His work was done, and impressively so.
At half-time, BT Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand and Glenn Hoddle applauded Cavani's performance, and left United's manager in no two minds who his latest undroppable star was.
"He has to play," they both agreed.
Even the introduction of Anthony Martial, who came on, scored twice and won a penalty, should not have altered Solskjaer's thinking.
United sealed all three points, with Bruno Fernandes and Dan James helping bring their goal tally up to nine.
But there will be no points for guessing who will be leading the line against Everton on Saturday.
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