MAN UNITED 2, LIVERPOOL 1
Write off Manchester United at your period as Erik ten Hag’s embattled Reds posted a remarkable victory against Liverpool.
Hardly anybody at Old Trafford gave United a prayer after wretched performances in their opening two league games against Brighton and Brentford.
This game had everything the two others lacked – pride, passion and purpose – as ten Hag’s side put down the benchmark for future performances.
United had been written off. Indeed, pundit Chris Sutton forecast a 5-1 victory for Liverpool who had won 5-0 on last season’s visit.
Liverpool were unbeaten in their previous eight league games against United and were looking to make it four straight wins for the first time in 20 years.
But goals from back-to-form Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford helped United regain their mojo as they registered a first league win of the season and only their second league win in 13 games against the Anfield side.
It must have been great viewing for Casemiro, the Reds’ signing from Real Madrid as the Brazilian was paraded on the pitch pre-match.
They say fortune favours the brave and ten Hag was that as he dropped Cristiano Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire, both of whom have been struggling for form.
But you only had to look at the stats to see it was a huge call as United had won only 17 per cent of games without Ronaldo in their side compared to a 50 per cent win record with him in the side.
Ten Hag was vindicated in his team selection as United produced a purposeful and energetic display not seen so far on a night when there was another huge protest against club owners the Glazer family.
Embed from Getty ImagesTen Hag said: “We can talk about tactical, but it is all about attitude. There was communication and a fighting spirit.
“I wanted a different approach and a different attitude and that is what they brought on the pitch. It is only a start. We can play with much more composure and much more danger. Be a team, and have a good spirit, and that is what we saw today.
“It is not always about what I said. I said we have to act and not to talk a lot and make sure you are a team and battle and be brave and give each other options.
“It makes me happy that Rashford and Sancho got the goals. Fernandes took the responsibility and the captaincy encouraged him. He showed leadership with Varane. They made huge difference. It is not just them, we need more leaders. When you want to win you need leaders and the spirit we showed today.
“I am happy with the performance, but we have to bring it every game. Don’t just bring it against Liverpool. Every Premier League game is difficult, we need to bring it to every game. It starts, once again, with the spirit.
“I have a squad and we have to use the squad. We play 50-60 games, from game-to-game we will see what team we will pick. I don’t have to mention Maguire and Ronaldo, they are amazing players, and they will play a role in the future and the short future as well.
“We have the right players, I am convinced of that. The window is not closed, and you need numbers and also quality.”
Sancho added: “It means a lot. Our first two games didn’t go so well and had it turn it around today.
“Last week hurt a lot and we knew we had to bounce back and tonight we showed the fans what we can do.
“I didn’t realise how much time I had, but once I dropped the defender, I needed the composure to finish.
“It means a lot to all of us, you can see how the fans are reacting. We got the three points but on to the next one.
“We just have to produce like today in every single game. Happy we got the three points, and we move on.”
Suddenly the spotlight shifted to Liverpool who have made a faltering start to their campaign with two points from a possible nine.
They have been hit by injuries and are struggling to recapture the form which saw them win two domestic cups last season, finish runners-up in the league and reach the final of the Champions League.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “They were really aggressive in the beginning, and it was clear what will happen. They were more aggressive than us and they hit the post early on. They scored the goal and we took over and played the game we wanted to play. We were unlucky with situations against an opponent like United, it would have been helpful to score and go 1-1 at half time.
“The second goal does not help then it was a hectic game after our goal, definitely not the result we wanted.
“When we calmed down, we have extreme number of shots for an away game at United. We should use more of these moments. In the second half David de Gea made a fantastic save. If you score then, the game turns then we did not have enough time or power in the end.
“When you are in a game like this fighting, these guys talk to each other and on the pitch, it is a different conversation. It was not a perfect performance, it was clear United would get out of the blocks but we were not 100 per cent ready.
“We had to keep chasing the game and that is not what you want to do. It makes it difficult with their counter-attacking threat. The second goal is hard to take, it was offside, but we have to work with it.
“We are in a tricky situation injury wise, we got through the week with 14, 15 senior players available and now have to make sure they don’t get injured. We should have won this game, I know it sounds ridiculous but that is how I saw it.
“I am concerned about our situation, but that is how it is. We prepare for Bournemouth and Newcastle now.”
Andrew Robertson added: “We give every team a goal start which is the base of the game, we can’t give ourselves an uphill battle. That is what needs to change, we can’t keep going behind.
“In the warm-up, it was the quietest I have heard this stadium and they wanted something to lift them, and we gave them it.
“Two points from nine is not the start we wanted. We need to pick up our performances individually and collectively. We can’t keep this going on out there, it is easy to talk about it in the changing room, but we have to go out and do it. We can’t keep conceding goals.
“They started better than us today. It needs to change.”
Ten Hag made some huge calls in four changes to the side that started the humiliating 4-0 Premier League defeat at Brentford nine days ago.
Ronaldo dropped to the bench along with Maguire, Luke Shaw and Fred.
In came Anthony Elanga, Tyrell Malacia, Scott McTominay and Raphael Varane who partnered Lisandro Martinez in central defence while Bruno Fernandes skippered the side.
Jurgen Klopp made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Crystal Palace a week ago.
Roberto Firmino started in place of the suspended Darwin Nunez, Jordan Henderson came in for Fabinho and Joe Gomez started instead of Nathaniel Phillips.
With the atmosphere electric inside Old Trafford, this clearly lifted United as the pace and intensity of their play was far removed to their first two league games.
They pressed and took the game to Liverpool and so nearly took a deserved 10th minute lead.
Fernandes slid in to release Elanga who was completely free on the left of the box. He picked his spot, beat Alisson only to see the ball strike the outside of the upright.
United made the breakthrough in the 16th minute, and thoroughly deserved.
Elanga opened up Liverpool’s defence on the left before crossing to Sancho who, almost in slow motion, turned James Milner before picking his spot with a shot low to the right of Alisson.
The goal almost lifted the roof off Old Trafford but was immediately followed by chants for the Glazers to quit.
Liverpool were rocked and looked for an immediate response as Luiz Diaz shot narrowly wide.
The night almost got better for United when Christian Eriksson almost curled in a free kick from the left as Alisson desperately clawed it around the post for a corner with his fingertips.
Liverpool were never allowed to settle and dictate play as they normally do.
They almost conjured a bizarre equaliser, however, four minutes before the break.
Milner headed towards goal from a Liverpool corner and Fernandes, sliced an attempted clearane, which was blocked on the goalline by Lisandro Martinez.
United made a change at the break as Elanga made way for Anthony Martial.
It got even better for United when they doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute.
Martial muscled possession in the centre circle before releasing Rashford who raced clear before shooting low past Alisson.
There was an anxious wait for a VAR check for a possible offside before Rashford’s first goal in all competitions since January was confirmed, a remarkable 997 minutes without finding the net. It was also his fifth in 11 Premier League games against Liverpool.
United would have added a third goal moments later but for Alisson flinging himself low to his left to turn Rashford’s shot around the post for a corner as the hosts remained rampant.
Klopp’s response was to bring off captain Jordan Henderson and replace him with Fabinho.
David De Gea kept his goal intact with a smart save on his line to keep out Fabinho’s header from a corner.
United’s second change with 20 minutes left saw Fred replace Sancho.
Rashford, lifted by the goal, looked a completely new player to the one of recent times when he was devoid of confidence.
He cut in from the left evading several challenges before his swerving shot dipped just over the crossbar.
Liverpool halved the deficit with 10 minutes left as their pressure told.
Martinez almost put through his own goal slicing a clearance which De Gea did well to claw behind.
But from the resulting corner, Liverpool scored. Substitute Fabio Carvalho’s shot was parried by De Gea but rebounded into the air to be headed home by Salah, his 10th goal against United.
Ten Hag then made his final three changes as Diogo Dalot, Eriksen and Rashford were replaced by Aaron Wan-Bisska, Ronaldo and Donny van de Beek.