PREMIER LEAGUE PAYBACK Big-money buy must take centre stage as Reds reel from injuries and poor form

PAUL POGBA trudged from the field with the weight of the full-time boos which cascaded down from all four corners of Old Trafford resting firmly on his shoulders.

His head bowed, his steps slow … he knew a 0-0 draw at home to a struggling Southampton side was not the way 2017 should end.

Certainly not the way this season started, with Manchester United playing with a spring in their step and the sort of football which suggested they would keep pace with Manchester City.

Instead, they are already find themselves 14 points behind and it will be 17 by teatime unless Crystal Palace spring what would be one of the surprises of the season.

Too many of United’s bigname pl ayers aren’t producing.

Poor Romelu Lukaku has Followollow Fo us on Twitter: Twwitwtewr.: @peo lceosp. was embarrassing for him but so shorn of confidence is he that anything can happen when he swings a boot.

Marcus Rashford was a willing runner but Pogba, Lingard and Co behind him were unable to pick out his runs, and when Anthony Martial joined the fray, he too did nothing to trouble Southampton.

Pogba did stick out a boot to turn the ball into the net late on but he was rightly flagged for offside.

Nine points were on offer against Leicester, Burnley and Southampton but only three were gained.

And with Chelsea now ahead of them and Liverpool breathing hard on their shoulders, they need to start picking up wins again and fast.

Mourinho will need to lean on Pogba more than he has done over the last 18 months.

Now is the time for him to show his shoulders are broad enough to bear the load.