Keane believed that Fred should have done better in stopping Southampton’s opening goal

Roy Keane believed that Fred should have done better in stopping Southampton’s opening goal against Manchester United on Sunday.

Jack Stephens dispossessed Bruno Fernandes in the build-up to the goal before the ball fell to Che Adams, whose deflected shot crept past David De Gea to give Southampton the lead.

Fernandes believed he had been fouled in the build-up to the goal, but Keane and former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell both agreed that the referee’s decision to wave play on was the right one.

Instead Keane thought that the defence, and specifically Fred should have done better to prevent Adams from getting his shot away.

‘Fred and [Harry] Maguire have to do better to close down the shot,’ the former United captain said on Sky Sports.

‘As a midfielder when someone comes into your area you’ve got to deal with it. He’s got to do more, he’s got to do better.’

United had the better of the first half, but it was Southampton who went into the break ahead thanks to the goal, which was credited as a Fred own goal, just before half time.

New signings Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane were both named among the United substitutes as boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer made two changes to the team that started the 5-1 win at home to Leeds last weekend with Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic coming in for Scott McTominay and Daniel James.

Before the match, Solksjaer hailed both of his new players and the impact they’ve already had to his team.

‘For me he [Sancho] fits us like a glove, he’s creative, he’s fearless, he’s hard working, he’s humble and he’s got all the attributes to be a success at Man Utd,’ Keane said.

‘He [Varane] certainly has all the credentials and quality to be a success, he’s impressed me, he’s worked hard and he knows it been a while since he’s played. He’s very meticulous, he’s a professional you can see his trophies and you can look at him and what he’s done off the pitch.’