After a difficult start to the Premier League that saw his side humbled by Brighton and Brentford, Erik ten Hag is finally off the mark for Manchester United after guiding them to a spirited 2-1 victory over rivals Liverpool.
Match Report
Strikes from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave the Red Devils the deserved advantage, as they seemed up for the challenge of taking on last season's Premier League runner-ups.
A late Mohamed Salah goal reopened proceedings, with the fans at Old Trafford forced to watch the final minutes in some discomfort. In the end it proved too little too late for the Reds, who remain winless on the season.
United presented Casemiro to the excited home fans after his move from Real Madrid was made official, and the excitement seemed to carry over onto the pitch.
Ten Hag's men were by far the better team early on as Liverpool struggled to play the ball out of their own half at times. In fact, it should have been 1-0 when Bruno Fernandes squeezed a pass into the path of Anthony Elanga who, through on goal, managed to side foot his effort past Alisson and onto the post.
The miss didn't dampen Manchester's spirits however, and they deservedly took the lead five minutes later. Elanga picked out Sancho in the box, and after showing some patience and putting James Milner on his backside, the former Dortmund man swept his side-footed finish into the bottom corner.
It was enough to get Ten Hag out of his seat and send Old Trafford into rapture. It was very nearly 2-0 soon after, Sancho picking out Marcus Rashford on the edge of the box, only for his effort to be blocked by a sliding Joe Gomez.
After Christian Eriksen's whipped corner was expertly stopped by a leaping Alisson, Liverpool finally began to grow into the game.
Mohamed Salah's shot was blocked by a sprawling Lisandro Martinez, while James Milner's smashed header was headed back towards his own goal by Fernandes. It eventually hit the chest of Martinez on the line, who scrambled the ball clear.
Liverpool didn't carry that momentum over to the second half however, with United doubling their advantage seven minutes after the restart. Substitute Anthony Martial played Rashford through on goal, and the forward ran through before calmly firing past a helpless Alisson for his fifth goal in 11 Premier League appearances against the Reds.
A short VAR check confirmed the goal with Liverpool nearly hitting back straight away, but David de Gea did well to deny Luis Diaz's close-range effort.
Alisson did well to keep Liverpool in the contest after Raphael Varane laid it off for Rashford, only for the Brazilian to make a stunning save down to his left.
De Gea responded with a great save of his own from a Fabinho header as Liverpool began to turn up the pressure. The Spaniard kept Roberto Firmino at bay soon after, but he could do nothing to stop Liverpool's advances in the 82nd minute.
United failed to clear a corner and after De Gea pushed out a Fabio Carvalho header, Salah was there to head home from close range, setting up a nervy finish for the home fans. Varane stuck out his leg just in the knick of time to keep Firmino from slotting home an easy finish, resulting in ten Hag pacing the touchline as the minutes slowly ticked away.
It proved to be Liverpool's last real effort, with the Dutchman easing the pressure on him and the club by picking up his first win at the club, along with United's first victory over the Reds since 2018.
The result sees Manchester United leapfrog Liverpool in the standings, with the pressure now on Jurgen Klopp's side as they remain winless after three matches.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
10' CLOSE! Elanga hits the post
15' GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool (Sancho)
18' Diaz's shot wide out
23' Yellow Card! Alexander-Arnold booked
25' Eriksen's free kick stopped
41' CLOSE! Martinez makes goal-line clearance
44' Yellow Card! Dalot booked
52' GOAL! Man Utd 2-0 Liverpool (Rashford)
56' Rashford's shot stopped
66' Fabinho's header too straight
73' Yellow Card! Bruno Fernandes booked
76' Rashford's shot over the bar
80' GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool (Salah)
Line-ups
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Eriksen, Varane, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot, Rashford, Sancho, Martinez, McTominay, T. Malacia, A. Elanga
Subs: Ronaldo, Heaton, Maguire, Fred, Shaw, Martial, Van de Beek, Wan-Bissaka, Alejandro Garnacho
Liverpool XI: Milner, Henderson, Alisson, Firmino, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, L. Díaz, Elliott
Subs: Adrian, Fabinho, Tsimikas, Fabio Carvalho, Van den Berg, N. Phillips, H. Davies, Bobby Clark, Stefan Bajcetic
21Legacy
1246
Man Utd have finally found Harry Maguire’s best position 😂
ijelejoe
1038
Virgil van Dijk anytime he see Sancho inside box[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
zubsain55
1018
appreciation post
TarhEkule
812
beast
AustyUba2020
705
MALACIA remove your mask... PATRICE EVRA is that you???🙄🙄
Kevin201
538
Ronaldo benched United 2 - 1 Liverpool Goat impact Goat of bench 🥰
footballfr3ak
533
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
BLESSEDUC
496
I felt the winning 🏅 spirit in them yesterday @Malacia @Martinez❤️❤️🏅
PanAteLexis
482
I’m a Liverpool fan but my God Manchester United and Malacia today::::::::“BEAST”
FesojayeIbraheem
482
when u see man utd playing better without you[Crylaugh]
MinBon07
469
Liverpool fans watching Van dijk defending today😂👇🏽
G_14
465
Liverpool After first half 🤕
Jezby10
445
He did his best.Top top player🙌🏾
muusheik
419
The butcher won our hearts today
nacandeey
414
No UNITED And CITY Rivalry For the first time. Both Fans Went to support United Tonight 🙂
G_14
398
Man U after the match, "Who said I was dead"!? 😒
Richyrichcfc93765
368
Other EPL clubs checking when they're playing Liverpool [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Ibrahimshickturay
363
Show him some love for his excellent decision making today by benching the almighty Maguire [Crylaugh]
patcool
341
after realizing that it was not a friendly match
lotogbe21
313
Without me, you will work alone
Blessedwinner55
299
who is this guy?? he was super excellent in the defense
BenchuksGH
270
one word "BEAST!"
nkc123
264
VVD hasn´t been same since this😂
cheeriSohail
247
Maguire out Liverpool out after all we found solutions
21Legacy
232
This is the moment James Milner knew he fxcked up 😂😂
patcool
228
this was one of many
Ikeson83
228
I was looking for Mo Salah in the pitch today
EphraimBWonlon
226
man u running to tell other team they are ready
thjhjkkj
199
aymanbadrus009
150
Elijah007
120
best match so far this season
ruqiyo
83
casemiro watched football 😎
educatione
76
Keep update with this website for latest GIF: https://bit.ly/3T8jEJZ
Savage909
33
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
U should be ashamed of yourself bringing Ronaldo into ur loss
itz_dubem10
30
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
he didn't even play 10 minutes in this match bro why are u so obsessed
lusaimotz
25
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
after you lose that's what you can say🤣🤣🤣
Grinfinz
22
Club name :- Liverpool fc Offense:- letting mane Go.. The only mistake Liverpool ever made was letting Sadio Mane leave... dude plays for his clubs like it’s is father that owns the club... I use to tell people that if am giving opportunity to sign either Salah or Mane, trust me I would go for Mane anytime any day... now dudes is scoring for fun at Bayern.....
AkashN10
17
They played like they are share holders of the club 💥
rsnnpn123
17
he didn't even play 10 minutes in this match bro why are u so obsessed
last season when messi played like some minutes like Ronaldo this season, we know what you guys said about messi, so karma is sh*t😂
Jeoilnotuy
16
beast
[image]
The guy is excellent, I feel pity for Shaw cause I don't see him starting much games from now
logobenz11
15
I still miss this guy
sodiqhassan
14
, please appreciate this beast 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Posamprt
14
No Maguire … De Gea plays with confidence. No Maguire … Dalot plays great. No Maguire … Lisandro dominates his box. No Maguire … Varane reminds us his time at Madrid. No Maguire … Even Mctominay plays way better than Mctominay!� No Maguire � Better Manchester United
CHRISBLAISE24
14
don't skip without liking Martinez really saved Noise pollution today
rapb_12
13
appreciation post
[image]
the tallest amongst all the Manchester United players.. he shows that South Americans too knows how to play football, be in the European club or any where..
AndreSmart
13
Virgil van Dijk anytime he see Sancho inside box[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
when I said it during that Liverpool 2019 UCL run that VVD can't defend, doesn't even slide & always running back when someone is coming at him also Matip was doing the dirty work for him, people came for me well now everyone can 🙈. A proper CB would have slid when Sancho had already sent Milner for 🍭 but of course its VVD
itz_dubem10
13
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
he didn't even play 10minutes int his match beo😭why are u so obsessed
Xanderr
11
If they will be injury free, i think Ten hag can get the best out of this Squad here if he will use them more often this SEASON!💯🌟🤝
rencemosty
11
Allison 0 clean sheets De Gea 0 clean sheets Cristiano Ronaldo 3 clean sheets, Respect the man [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
Console yhurself with the loss 🤡
liyemnort
9
this shows mane was backbone of liverpool. without him liverpool is just another leicester