It was redemption day for Manchester United as Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford powered the Red Devils to a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. Man United looked like an inspired team after losing their first two matches, passing the ball around the park in the first 20 minutes to lead to Sancho's emphatic opener. The intensity against an injured Liverpool team that has yet to win a game this season was hard to match as Erik ten Hag's squad made it the half with a one-goal lead. They were hanging on by the skin of their teeth as Lisandro Martinez made a goal-line clearance to prevent a Bruno Fernandes own goal.
Not to get complacent, ten Hag subbed on Anthony Martial for Anthony Elanga at the half and it paid dividends. Martial assisted United's second goal in the 51st minute. Mohamed Salah got one back after a shot attempt from Fabio Carvalho late but the game was out of reach. With the win, United finally kick-start the ten Hag era with three points in front of their home fans, who were treated to Casemiro's presentation before the game, and their first goal from open play.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are left to pick up the pieces after three games without a win and a performance to forget at Old Trafford as they were outworked on every area of the pitch. Anthony Elanga rattling the post from the first whistle should've been a wake-up call for the Reds. Sancho was later given too much time in the box.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was targeted after getting a yellow card for taking down Elanga and appeared to look like someone who was thinking twice on just about every defensive challenges available. Without the protection of Fabinho and with Joe Gomez making his first start since April of 2022, the defense was in shambles. Liverpool did the have attacking chances to try to steal a point on the road. They rattled off 17 shots but with Roberto Firmino not offering a threat filling in for Darwin Nunez -- who still has two more matches to serve in his headbutt suspension -- things were too predictable and United managed to block everything in sight, leaving ten Hag rather upbeat in his postgame interview overseas.
"We can talk about technical, but it's all about attitude. Now you see we bring the attitude on the pitch," he said to Sky Sports. "There was communication, there was a fighting spirit and, especially, there was a team and you can see what they can achieve. Because they can f---ing play football."
When it comes to attitude, it's important to note that captain Harry Maguire and the Portuguese castaway Cristiano Ronaldo were dropped from the starting lineup. The attack was expansive with willing runners to play the ball to while the defense was stout without needing to accommodate Maguire's lack of pace. With a few more performances like this, they could be deemed surplus to requirements along with Luke Shaw after Tyrell Malacia contained Salah, who still managed to find the back of the net late in the proceedings.
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The trio of Sancho, Rashford, and Elanga/Martial took care of all the necessary attacking damage to deliver a blow to Liverpool. Sancho and Rashford did the scoring while Elanga and Martial dished the assists. Rashford, in particular, was a man inspired with five shots as a central striker instead of his usual left wing position to accommodate Ronaldo. Martial created two chances when he came on while also assisting Rashford's goal. But more importantly, Rashford still has confidence in his shot.
They were also solid defensively tracking back to prevent Liverpool from overloading the defense which is something that can't be done with Ronaldo in the side. Much has been made about sprinting numbers over the week after United were outrun by Brentford but based on the work rate they showed against Liverpool, ten Hag ball needs the team to sprint to make his system work. It does make me wonder if Casemiro will be asked to run when he is introduced into the team since he's a different type of midfielder than McTominay but allowing him to sit deep could allow the team in front of him to be more expansive as well.
Liverpool are struggling to create from deep which makes their crosses too predictable. Harvey Elliott got forward with four shots, but between him, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, only four chances were created. The only through ball of the day came from Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool were unable to get the ball into space the way they would like to beat Manchester United over the top.
Salah did what he could in attack, but before the transfer window closes it would make sense for the Reds to add another midfielder. Jude Bellingham has been a name linked to them but it may be hard to secure the services of a super young (19 years old), talented central midfielder with just over a week left in the transfer window. For now, a formation change to a 4-2-3-1 to give more freedom to Elliott or Fabio could make sense. Carvalho seems like the best option to open up the attack, but that would likely require moving Salah to center forward while dropping Firmino to the bench. It's a lot of change for the Reds but a shakeup is needed at this stage.
Raphel Varane and Lisandro Martinez were impressive in defense for Manchester United. Between them, they made 16 clearances as they attacked the ball. More importantly, they didn't dive into tackles to make themselves vulnerable to the oncoming Liverpool attack. Martinez's anticipation was also on full display as he blocked three shots in the game to protect David De Gea in net. Martinez had a rough start being withdrawn at halftime of the Brentford match, but while he did less with the ball at his feet against Liverpool, he didn't need much time on the ball to show his effectiveness.
With Harry Maguire staying on the bench, the next few matches will be important to see what his role is at Manchester United. The team captain could be sent to the bench for the foreseeable future if the current back four continues to perform well. It'll be quite a fall for Maguire and a blow to the England national team setup, but considering his team's latest performances, it's a change that might need to happen.
That's what soccer under Erik ten Hag is supposed to look like as his Red Devils pulled out a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford paced them as the team held on despite Mohamed Salah also finding the back of the net.
Time for more crosses but Ronaldo will enter for Rashford and Wan-Bissaka comes on for Dalot to provide fresh legs.
That one bundled over the line from Mohamed Salah but Bruno Fernades didn't want to give Liverpool the ball after. It's time to search for an equalizer with seven minutes left.
But Jurgen Klopp needs mroe. Mohamed Salah has been absent from the match and that will need to change for Liverpool to get back into things. Rashford is a man inspired with five shots so far as he dispossessed Joe Gomez.
Liverpool has taken 11 shots so far but only one has hit the target. Dominating almost 70 percent of possession, frustration is setting in as Manchester United have held their defensive lines. Only 23 mintues remain to find a breakthrough.
It's a terrible defensive showing for Liverpool and they're running out of time to turn this around. United have been targeting Trent Alexander-Arnold to good effect so far but Fabinho may change that. Jordan Henderson will exit.
He's been a thorn in Liverpool's side all day and Rashford finally gets one. He uses his pace and leaves the defense in the dust but you can see how much that goal meant to him and the team. This is a massive shift. Martial with the assist after coming on at the half.
Anthony Elanga had a good start to the game but Anthony Martial will be on in his place for the second half. That's one way to make sure that the momentum continues in the second half.
After bursting out the gates in the first 20 mintues with Sancho scoring a goal, Liverpool were the better side for the remainder of the half. It's the first time that we've seen Manchester United look like an Erik ten Hag team but it takes a lot of effort out of them. Will they be able to sustain this and score another goal or will Liverpool strike once United begins to tire?
He needed every inch to stop Bruno Fernandes from scoring an own goal. It was Liverpool's best chance of the game and it was created by Manchester United!
Manchester United's defense is bending a little but it hasn't broken yet as Liverpool are growing into the match. If the Reds can get a goal before half it could restore confidence but United are doing the best they can to make sure that doesn't happen. Diaz did take advantage of United playing out of the back to win possession but it still wasn't enough to kickstart things.
Luis Diaz puts in a cross but Dalot was there to stop it. The Reds seek their first shot on target as the match enters the 30th minute.
It's another time when the duo of Elanga and Rashford have been on the front foot as they're giving the Liverpool defense more problems than they can cope with. Something needs to change as Joe Gomez isn't providing the right back with enough cover.
The Liverpool defense have been on the back foot all game allowing four shot sand that goal. Even in build up, Liverpool look unsure of what to do and Klopp doesn't have many options on how to fix it.
It's 1-0 Manchester United after his pivot and driving the ball into an empty net. A good play from Elanga to set him up but there are arguments happening in the Liverpool defense on what happened there.
After Bruno Fernandes gets the ball in open space, Anthony Elanga rattles the post. It's all United but can they keep the intensity up in the match or will Liverpool find their footing?
Alexander-Arnold drags him down to hand Eriksen a free kick. Eriksen hits it off the wall for a corner but things are looking good for United early.
Liverpool defended well cutting off the chance but Marcus Rashford was almost clear through. Manchester United are knocking the ball around the park in this new look lineup. Can the Reds exploit things?
An early goal could change things with both teams struggling to begin the season.
After losing to Brentford, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Cristiano Ronaldo all dropped to the bench. All eyes will be on Marcus Rashford leading the line as Manchester United look to score their first goal from open play. The double pivot of Eriksen and McTominay will also be important to moving the ball and trying to unsettle Liverpool.
I took a look at what can be expected with him in the midfield
The €60 million fee and four-year contract suggest that ten Hag can build a system around Casemiro. While he has been durable since suffering a leg fracture in 2016, making bets like that on a 30-year-old player isn't a smart play especially when they would move to a more physical league. This isn't to say that Casemiro can't play a physical game because he can, but moving to a new system in a team that is already adjusting and struggling is tough for anyone.
If ten Hag isn't planning to accommodate Casemiro, similar issues playing out of the back will happen when he's targeted, which is why this feels like a desperation signing. At the bottom of the league with fans planning to protest the ownership of the Glazers ahead of a rivalry match versus Liverpool on Monday, United need a good headline. They've spent all summer pinning their hopes on adding Frenkie de Jong and with that seeming unlikely, things are being thrown at the wall to see what sticks.
Everyone has time to stop for pictures with the new star defensive midfielder
Starters: De Gea, Martinez, Fernandes, Malacia, Eriksen, Varane, Dalot, Sancho, Elanga, McTominay
Reserves: Heaton, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Van de Beek, Garnacho, Martial, Ronaldo
Starters: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Firmino
Reserves: Adrian, Davies, Fabinho, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Clark, Bajctic, Phillips, Van Den Berg
It's almost easier to list who is available to Klopp than it is to go through who isn't but while Nunez's suspension will be a big loss with Diogo Jota still recovering, the team did receive a big boost. Roberto Firmino is back in training and should be a full inclusion in the match. Matip is out for at least a few more weeks, while it's too soon to pin a return date on Kounate's knee injury. Curtis Jones could offer a boost to the midfield soon but he's also not ready yet while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin has a serious hamstring injury. With Thiago also out of the match, Harvey Elliott will look to continue his strong start to the season.
Anthony Martial will be available for his first match of the season. He was expected to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo for the starting forward position under ten Hag this season. Due to United's lack of scoring, even though he will feature off the bench, a strong performance against Liverpool could go a long way. Victor Lindelof hasn't returned to training yet while Facundo Pellistri and Brandon Williams are also unavailable for the match.
Tensions are high at Old Trafford as the Erik ten Hag era hasn't started off on the right foot with losses in the opening games. Protests are also surrounding the Glazer's ownership but the arrival of Casemiro could provide enough belief to push the team to a strong performance versus Liverpool. The Reds face their own injury issues which could make this quite an affair.
