Southampton are ahead of Manchester United in MOTD running order table

Although Saints are yet to be screened first on the highlights show, their defeat to Tottenham on Saturday was broadcast second.

This led to them being above Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who are 17th, due to the fact that they are yet to feature in the opening two matches.

Saints are also above Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United, with the Blades at the foot of the table.

The Match of the Day running order table. Graphic: Press Association

Manchester City may be five points behind Liverpool early in the Premier League season, but in one area they still reign supreme.

Pep Guardiola's side have featured in the lead game on Match of the Day every time they have played on Saturday this campaign.

In the opening seven instalments of the BBC's flagship highlights show, City's six appearances have all come in the top slot - with newly-promoted Norwich the only other team to make more than one headline appearance.

The reigning champions opened with a 5-0 win over West Ham, followed by a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham which also earned top billing and sparked extensive discussion of VAR after Gabriel Jesus had a late winner disallowed.

After playing on Sunday the following week they were back in their habitual spot with a 4-0 win over Brighton.

The Canaries' headline-grabbing win over City in week five was never going to be beaten to the limelight, and neither was City's 8-0 win over Watford as they rebounded in style.

A 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday was enough to keep the run going and - with a Sunday game on the schedule this week - City fans will go into the international break without once having to stay up late to catch their team in action.

City's Saturday opponents, of course, each have one appearance in top spot - with the exception of Norwich, whose eye-catching start to their Premier League return has seen them twice given top billing.