Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that his side were fortunate to come away with all three points from their Premier League match against Southampton.

Robin van Persie scored twice as the Reds claimed a 2-1 win that moved them up to third in the Premier League.

Despite the victory, Van Gaal was not happy with the way that his players cheaply conceded possession, and felt that Southampton were the better side.

"We lost the ball too easily in the first half," he told Sky Sports News. "The only chances Southampton created were when we lost the ball. That was not good in spite of our good result because we got a present also from Southampton.

"In the second half we were better. But I think Southampton played better than Manchester United yet we were the lucky guys."

United are next in action when they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.