Manchester United leapfrogged Southampton on Monday’s clash to land third in the League table, a position they last reached in August 2013.
Though Van Persie brace handed victory to the visiting side, it was rather an unfortunate time out for Southampton who dominated play for most of the time, created multiple chances but failed to secure a win.
Man United have now claimed to the third position of the table with 28 point, five behind rivals Man City in second and eight less than leaders Chelsea, while Southampton with 26 points are at fifth position, one point behind fourth-placed West Ham United.
It was Man United fifth successive Premier League victory and Southampton third consecutive loss after a 1- 0 victory against Leicester City on November 8.
Louis Van Gaal who spoke after the match admitted his team was lucky to have been gifted with the undeserved victory.
“I think Southampton played better than Manchester United – I think we were the lucky guy,” Van Gaal said.
“We lost the ball too easily in the first half. We didn’t have very good positional play. The only chances that Southampton created were when we lost the ball.
“The first goal was a present from Southampton, but the second was very nice because I thought the goalkeeper was coming out but he didn’t, so we were very lucky.”