Ten Hag praises United’s ‘attitude’ in surprise win
MANCHESTER: Manchester United produced an utterly unexpected 21 victory over old rival Liverpool in the English Premier League at Old Trafford yesterday to turn fan protests against the club’s owners into a rare night of celebration.
United’s vastly improved performance for its first points of the campaign, thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, left Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool without a victory from its opening three games and with just two points.
It was the first win for United’s Dutch manager, Erik ten Hag, who was rewarded for his decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo and club captain Harry Maguire on the bench.
‘‘I am happy with the performance but we have to bring it every game,’’ Ten Hag said.
‘‘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.’’
In the aftermath of last week’s humiliat ing 40 loss at Brentford, it has been a week of major question marks over the club’s owners, the Floridabased Glazer fam ily, and some fans marched to the ground in protest ahead of the kickoff calling for them to sell the club.
United’s transfer failings have also been criticised, but before the match started its new arrival from Real Madrid, Casemiro, was unveiled to the fans, although the welcoming applause threatened to be drowned out by antiGlazer chants.
That strange juxtaposition of support and protest remained throughout the game, but United’s display, its best in over a year, defined the night.
Sancho put the host ahead in the 16th minute, showing great composure as he collected a pullback from Anthony Elanga, left James Milner on his backside and then slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Christian Eriksen was denied a second for Ten Hag’s side with a curling freekick which Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker touched away from the top corner, but United extended its lead after the break.
A mistake by Jordan Henderson allowed substitute Anthony Martial to send Rashford clear and the England forward kept his cool to slot past Alisson in the 53rd minute for his first league goal since January.
Henderson was part of a weakened midfield with James Milner and Harvey Elliott but Liverpool was below par all over the field.
It did, however, pull a goal back in the 81st minute when Fabio Carvalho’s shot was parried by David De Gea, only for Mohamed Salah to react quickly and nod in the loose ball.
There was plenty for Ten Hag to be encouraged by, particularly Rashford’s return to scoring and form, but he will surely be delighted with the positive performances of two of his new signings.
Lisandro Martinez was outstanding in the centre of defence alongside the recalled Raphael Varane, while Tyrell Malacia, picked ahead of Luke Shaw at left back, was tenacious throughout.
‘‘We can talk about tactical but it is all about attitude. There was communication and a fighting spirit,’’ Ten Hag said.
‘‘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.’’
There were some late nerves for the home side after Liverpool scored but it held firm and the United fans, who had begun the night chanting against the club’s owners went home in celebratory mood. — Reuters