MANCHESTER: Manchester United produced an utterly unexpected 2-1 victory over old rivals Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Monday to turn fan protests against the club’s owners into a rare night of celebration.

United’s vastly improved performance for their first points of the campaign, thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, left Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool without a victory from their 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,” said Ten Hag. “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 humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford, it has been a week of major question marks over the club’s owners, the Florida-based Glazer family, and some fans marched to the ground in protest ahead of the kick-off calling for them to sell the club.

United’s transfer failings have also been criticised but before the match started their new arrival from Real Madrid, Casemiro, was unveiled to the fans, although the welcoming applause threatened to be drowned out by anti-Glazer chants.

That strange juxtaposition of support and protest remained throughout the game but United’s display, their best in over a year, defined the night.

Sancho put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, showing great composure as he collected a pull-back 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 free-kick which Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker touched away from the top corner but United extended their lead after the break.

“The start of the game was exactly what everyone expected, what United fans expected, they were after us,” said Klopp.

“They started slightly more aggressive than us. After the goal, they could more play the game they wanted.” Liverpool’s reluctance to refresh Klopp’s midfield options will face more scrutiny in the final days of the transfer window.

With Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita out injured, the 36-year-old Milner showed his age and Klopp had precious few options to turn to on the bench with new 75 million euro ($77 million) striker Darwin Nunez serving the first of a three-match ban for being sent off on his home debut.

Liverpool’s lack of energy in midfield was exposed for United’s second goal as Jordan Henderson’s poor touch presented possession to Anthony Martial and his perfect through ball set Rashford free in the 53rd minute to score his first goal since January.

Henderson was part of a weakened midfield with Milner and Harvey Elliott but Liverpool were below par all over the field.

They did however pull a goal back in the 81st minute when Fabio Carvalho’s shot was parried by David De Gea only for Mohammed Salah to react quickly and nod in the loose ball but United summoned a steel rarely seen in recent seasons to see out the closing stages and secure a much-needed boost for their new boss.

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.

De Gea’s error opened the floodgates at Brentford but the Spaniard also played his part in a night of redemption with a point-blank save from Luis Diaz.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022