Erik ten Hag enjoyed a dream start to life as Manchester United manager with an emphatic 4-0 pre-season victory over weakened rivals Liverpool in Thailand.
United ran riot against an extremely unfamiliar Liverpool side, with Jadon Sancho’s rasping drive, a fabulous lob from Fred, and a breakaway effort from Anthony Martial securing an unassailable three-goal lead at the break.
Liverpool, who started the match with five teenagers and did not introduce big hitters Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, or summer signing Darwin Nunez, until the 61st minute, left themselves with too much ground to make up on United, who put the seal on the encouraging victory with a brilliant late fourth from Facundo Pellistri.
Ten Hag’s tenure may be in its infancy, and this performance was almost certainly aided by Jurgen Klopp’s team selection, but with the positives plentiful for Manchester United there is cause for optimism at the dawn of this new era.
United and Liverpool both contributed to a frantically entertaining start in front of thousands of expectant fans at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, and it took just 13 minutes for the breakthrough goal, Sancho firing into the bottom corner after pouncing on Isaac Mabaya’s mis-control.
Liverpool youngster Luke Chambers had two bites at hauling Liverpool level before summer signing Fabio Carvalho went close and Luis Diazhit the woodwork amid a flurry of activity in front of the United goal, but it would be Ten Hag’s side who doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Fred nonchalantly chipped in from 18 yards on his unfavoured right boot.
Klopp made 10 outfield changes on the half-hour mark but two quickly became three, with Martial marking his return from his loan at Sevilla with a brilliant solo goal which saw him streak into Liverpool area and clip a shot over Alisson Becker.
Liverpool steadied but were unable to capitalise on United’s 10 half-time alterations, and only mustered a response on 70 minutes when Nunez stung the palms of goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who had replaced the injured David de Gea moments earlier.
With a stronger, more familiar, first-choice XI on the field for the finah 30 minutes, Liverpool improved. Mohamed Salah hit the post and Nunez missed a sitter, but any hopes of a comeback were nipped in the bud 13 minutes from time when Eric Bailly was allowed to surge unchallenged through midfield and Pellistri fired home after combining with Amad Diallo. – Sky Sports.
