Manchester United missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Manchester City, and will trail their rivals by a minimum of 14-points at the turn of the year.
Failure to turn their possession into three-points all sees Jose Mourinho’s side stay in third behind Chelsea, who went above the Red Devils following their 5-0 victory over Stoke City earlier on Saturday, on what proved a frustrating night for the Portuguese.
Firstly, top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku was stretchered off in the first half following a nasty clash of heads with Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt. The hosts should have been awarded a penalty before the interval for hand-ball.
He was replaced by Marcus Rashford, but neither he – or Anthony Martial who was introduced in the second half – could make the breakthrough.
United did have the ball in the net in the final 15 minutes of the game, only for the goal to be ruled offside by referee Craig Pawson.
To add insult to misery, Paul Pogba – who made the final contact as rightly flagged offside – need not have done so, as Nemanja Matic's effort was heading over the line regardless.
The stalemate means that United will trail bitter rivals City by a minimum of 14-points as the curtain comes down on 2017, with Pep Guardiola’s side taking on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on New Year’s Eve.
There were boos at full-time from the United fans, who have seen their side beaten in the EFL Cup by Bristol City and then held to draws by Leicester, Burnley and now Southampton during the festive period.
Additional reporting by the Press Association
