Paul Pogba admits Manchester United must show more to be a Premier League threat

French midfielder frustrated by draw at Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy - 6: Saved Maguire header on brink of half-time and did well not to spill with Pogba waiting to pounce. Will not be happy that Greenwood’s strike for equaliser went through his legs. Good stop from Fernandes header. Getty

Valentino Livramento - 7: Chopped ball away from goal line during scramble after United hit bar seven minutes in. Surging run down right and good ball into middle after 40 minutes but should have put Armstrong through earlier. Saints appear to have found a gem in the teenage full-back. Getty

Jack Stephens - 7: Barged Fernandes off ball in run-up to opening goal that United felt should have been foul. No-nonsense defender whose distribution can be a bit wayward at times. Reuters

Mohammed Salisu - 8: Important block on line before Livramento cleared away in early scramble. Greenwood shot went through his legs – and the keeper’s – for United goal. Martial barely got a kick and Salisu played key role in that. AFP

Romain Perraud - 7: French left-back guilty of needless foul on Fred that resulted in United hitting the bar from resulting free-kick in first 10 minutes. Tried to get forward when possible and summer signing did well on home debut. PA

Theo Walcott - 6: Quiet first half on right wing where Shaw’s runs down the flank must have caused concern to manager Hasenhuttl as the former England attacker was hooked in tactical switch at break. AFP

James Ward-Prowse - 7: Tried to catch out De Gea with free-kick at near post in first couple of minutes that United keeper palmed round for corner. Saw second-half free-kick hit straight at Spaniard parried away. Reuters

Oriol Romeu - 6: Another Saints player guilty of silly early foul that almost saw United scoring from resulting free-kick – Pogba heading over his time. Caught in possession a couple of times in first half and looked off pace. Loves a battle though - pushed Sancho in head for no reason at one point. Getty

Moussa Djenepo - 6: Loves his extravagant stepovers although didn’t really get him anywhere here. Booked just after half-time for foul on Fred. Can be a match-winner for Saints – this wasn’t one of those matches. Getty

Che Adams - 7: Saints took lead after 30 minutes when his shot took huge deflection off Fred to leave De Gea with no chance. Flashed second-half header across face of goal. Signs that partnership with Armstrong could be an effective one. Reuters

Adam Armstrong - 8: Curled shot over bar from edge of box just before half-hour mark but should have scored in second half when clean through but shot too close to De Gea. Made some great runs that his teammates failed to pick out. PA

SUBS: Jan Bednarek – (On for Walcott 46’) 6: On at break in tactical move by Saints and was under pressure right away at back as United dominated start of second half. Reuters

Ibrahima Diallo – (On for Djenepo 69’) 5: Struggled to pick up pace of game at first and was slow in possession. Kyle Walker-Peters – (On for Perraud 79’) N/A. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7: Had to be alert to save a cheeky free-kick in the first minute, but no chance of stopping Che Adams’ deflected effort. Anticipated well when Armstrong was clean on goal and, oddly, punched a free-kick away from the same player when it looked an easy catch. AFP

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6: Mediocre. Beautiful 64th minute cross to Bruno – and he made two good crosses inside four minutes. A threat at times, clumsy at others. Getty

Victor Lindelof - 6: Played well last week and deserved to keep his place but missed a headed chance from a Fernandes free-kick and didn’t look an authority against a side picking up their first league point. EPA

Harry Maguire - 5: Let Adams shoot for Saints’ goal. Also uncharacteristically lost possession on occasions and a howler came after 73 minutes to put his side at risk, but De Gea saved it – and the centre-half's blushes. Rightly booked two minutes later. Hands full with the tireless Armstrong. AFP

Luke Shaw - 6: Free-kick met Pogba’s head as United’s early dominance against his former club went unrewarded. Fine 82nd minute challenge as Saints had chances to get an unexpected winner. Poor ball as United broke in search of a winner in last minute but always showed attacking intent. AFP

Nemanja Matic - 6: Impressive pre-season and started as McTominay not 100 per cent fit. Not as fast or physical as the Scottish midfielder. Late stretch across goal as Southampton caused serious threats. Busier as United lost momentum but brought off as offered little going forward. PA

Fred - 5: Scored last week – and this week, except it was an own goal. Poor passing as United lost their early momentum. Whipped a ball in for Greenwood as United pushed to go ahead, but not good enough for the standards expected of a United central midfielder. Getty

Paul Pogba - 7: Looping effort hit crossbar in seventh minute. Should have kept a 12th-minute Shaw free-kick down. Splendid pass to Martial in first half and again in the build-up to Greenwood’s equaliser. Shot wide himself after dazzling with footwork. Playing well. Booked after 90. PA

Bruno Fernandes - 6: Free-kick almost set up a seventh minute opener. Booked for complaining about foul which wasn’t given in run-up to Saints' goal. Settled down and integral to team. Headed a 64th minute cross at goal. Getty

Mason Greenwood - 7: Scored for the second successive game, a vital equaliser via a scuffed shot through a crowded box after being set up by Pogba. Now 31 United goals and still only a teenager. Comfortable. AFP

Anthony Martial - 5: Couldn’t get enough on a seventh minute chance to get the ball over the line. Still struggling to convince after coming back from injury. Unlikely to get too many more opportunities if he doesn’t improve when likes of Cavani and Rashford are available. Brought off early and could have no complaints. PA

SUBS: Jadon Sancho – (On for Martial 59’) 5: Involved in attacks but took too many touches. Limited impact. Getty

Scott McTominay – (On for Fred 76’) N/A. On for a United side who couldn’t maintain their early pressure. Energetic.. Reuters

Jesse Lingard – (On for Matic 86’) N/A. AFP

Paul Pogba voiced his frustration after Manchester United's draw at Southampton with the midfielder admitting such games could prove key in the final Premier League shake-up.

Having opened the season with a 5-1 triumph against Leeds, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side could only draw 1-1 at St Mary’s against a side they hit nine without reply against at Old Trafford earlier in the year.

Mason Greenwood cancelled out Che Adams’ strike deflected in off Fred to secure United a point in a match when both sides had chances to secure victory.

The draw left impressive Pogba unfulfilled and hungry to kick on at Wolves next weekend.

“I think we deserved more, but you have to show more also on the pitch,” the France international said.

“After the goal we scored, we dropped a little bit, we lose control of the game a bit and that’s why I think we didn’t get the second goal.

“I think we dropped a few points today. We get one point, we stay focused.

“Obviously we’re happy we didn’t lose today and we take this point with positivity.

“But we know those game. I think at the end of the season, those games, those three points, will be very important.

“So, we didn’t lose, we got one point and the next game away we know that those points will be very important for us and we don’t want to give them away.”

Next Sunday’s trip to Molineux could see United make history by becoming the first side to go 28 straight top-flight away matches unbeaten.

Solskjaer’s side equalled Arsenal’s run from 17 years ago by drawing at St Mary’s but Pogba has bigger achievements in mind.

“It’s always good but I prefer to win the league and don’t have the record,” he told MUTV.

“It’s good, it’s positive. Next time what we want to have a record of winning away – that would be the best and not draw when we know we can win these games.”

Pogba spoke well after the draw at Southampton, where marquee summer signings Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho were named on the bench.

The latter came on and veteran Edinson Cavani will get another week of fitness under his belt following an extended summer break, increasing United’s threat heading to Wolves next weekend.

“When he we have the full team it’s always good,” Pogba added.

“We know we have a very strong team with excellent individual players that can make the difference at any time.

“They’re getting ready and they’re ready to come on, like J today. He came on and show his ability, his quality and he helped the team.

“Edi is coming also. We’ve got plenty of players that are ready to get in the team.”