MANCHESTER: Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his competitive home debut with a brace as Paul Pogba’s second Manchester United debut ended in a 2-0 Premier League win over Southampton on Friday.
Pogba played for the full 90 minutes after his return to United in a world-record 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million) transfer from Juventus, but it was Ibrahimovic who stole the show.
The Swedish star scored with a first-half header and secondhalf penalty to make it four goals in three games for Jose Mourinho’s side, who took a provisional three-point lead at the top of the table.
United were deserved winners and with Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also making their competitive home debuts, there were signs that the page is being turned on the drab days of the Louis van Gaal era.
Southampton had won 1-0 on their previous two visits to Old Trafford, but they did not threaten to make it three victories in a row in what was the first of 10 Friday games in the Premier League this season.
Having seen his side draw 1-1 with Watford last weekend, new Southampton manager Claude Puel is still waiting for a first win.
Pogba, making his first United appearance since a 5-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2012, lined up alongside Marouane Fellaini at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
{{/usCountry}}Pogba, making his first United appearance since a 5-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2012, lined up alongside Marouane Fellaini at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
{{/usCountry}}His name drew huge cheers from the home support when it was read out prior to kick-off, but his first touch was forgettable -- an ungainly air-kick that enabled Southampton to spring a counter-attack.
Things quickly improved, however. He registered United’s first shot on target and then found Juan Mata with a clever, chipped pass, the Spaniard flicking the ball on for Ibrahimovic to volley acrobatically wide.