Unrecognisable Man Utd punish woeful Liverpool for Ten Hag’s first win

An unrecognisable Manchester United performance of class and intensity saw goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford earn a deserved 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.

United had endured a week of intense criticism after their 4-0 hammering at Brentford last weekend, but responded in style to leapfrog Jurgen Klopp’s side and earn a first league win over their bitter rivals since March 2018, and Erik ten Hag’s first as United manager.

“I cannot believe what I have just watched,” stunned former Man Utd defender Gary Neville told Monday Night Football. “This has to be a sign of things to come because what we have seen tonight, we haven’t seen for 12 months.”

They had rattled their visitors even before Sancho was given time to turn onto his left foot in the box and fire past an unsighted Alisson (16), and David de Gea did not have a save to make before the break.

Instead, United kept up their early promise and doubled their advantage eight minutes into the second period, when half-time arrival Anthony Martial set Rashford free to beat Alisson at his near post.

“Manchester United got a lot of criticism for their defending at Brentford last week and Liverpool should be getting exactly the same treatment after this,” said Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher about his former club.

The visitors did finally rally to pull a goal back with 10 minutes remaining, as Mohamed Salah became the first player in Liverpool’s history to score 10 goals against United when he nodded home the rebound from Fabio Carvalho’s shot.

But the hosts’ night of dogged defending continued to see them through to a first win of the season, and the statement of intent Ten Hag had been looking for from his new side.

“We can talk about tactics but it’s all about attitude,” the victorious manager told Sky Sports after full-time. “There was communication, fight spiriting and then you can see what they can achieve.”

How rejuvenated Man Utd upstaged Liverpool

Roared on by an Old Trafford crowd knowing their side needed their backing, United’s intensity was poles apart from the side that had crumbled so easily at Brentford nine days earlier.

Rashford’s pace had already worried Virgil Van Dijk before Anthony Elanga latched onto Bruno Fernandes’ superb square pass but smacking the base of the post when clean through.

The tempo of United’s attack was unrelenting and after some fine one-touch link-up between Christian Eriksen and Anthony Elanga, Sancho was the coolest man in Old Trafford to switch the ball onto his left and slot it into the unguarded corner of Liverpool’s net.

“You watch this great Liverpool side over the last three or four years, you don’t often see them like this – if at all,” was Neville’s damning assessment of the visitors’ start.

They did improve from their shellshocked start but not enough to test De Gea’s resolve before the break, and instead came closest when Fernandes cleared a corner straight into Lisandro Martinez on his own goal-line.

“United are at it,” said former Manchester United captain Roy Keane at the break. “The major disappointment is that they’ve only scored one goal.”

It was not something Keane and United would have to worry about for long. A heavy Henderson touch fell for Martial, whose quick thinking released Rashford in behind Alexander-Arnold.

The newly confident No 10 raced clear of the visitors’ backline before slotting the ball inside Alisson’s near post and showing the personal importance of the goal with an emphatic celebration in front of the Stretford End.

Even as Liverpool then pushed forward their defensive woes remained, and Rashford was allowed to dance past three challenges before arching a dipping effort just over Alisson’s bar from the edge of the area.

The Reds, who had scored in every Premier League game since December 2021, threatened to make a game of it late on when Carvalho’s shot was palmed out by De Gea to Salah, who had the simple task of beating the stranded goalkeeper with a near-post header.

But for all of Liverpool’s pressing for an equaliser in the final 10 minutes, they never threatened to derail a special night for United and Ten Hag, with the pressure now shifted onto Klopp’s side after failing to win their first three league games for the first time in a decade.

What’s next?

Manchester United’s next assignment is a trip to Southampton on Saturday lunchtime. Erik ten Hag’s side then travel to Leicester City on September 1, before hosting Arsenal three days later, live on Sky Sports.

Liverpool now face two home games – first against Bournemouth this Saturday; kick-off 3pm, then against Newcastle the following Wednesday; kick-off 8pm. Focus will then turn to the Merseyside derby against Everton in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off on September 3.