Erik ten Hag gamble shows his faith in Anthony Martial at Manchester United

As the Manchester United players made their way into the dressing room at half-time on Monday night, one player cut a lone figure on the hallowed Old Trafford turf.

Erik ten Hag had just seen his side run riot against their fiercest rivals in front of a boisterous home crowd, but rather than rest on his laurels, he sensed blood, knowing a second goal was needed against a side who always seemed to score.

Rather than play it safe, the United manager took another educated risk, sending Anthony Martial to warm up at half-time in order to prepare himself for his first taste of competitive action this season.

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It was another gamble that paid off on a night where Ten Hag seemed to be playing with his own cheat dice that had a six on every face.

Martial shone from the moment he came on, roughening up an already damaged defence and playing a key role with his perpetual pressing that forced the opposition into even more mistakes.

The Frenchman rediscovered his form with a flurry of goals in pre-season, but against Liverpool he offered so much more, impressing with his selfless link-up play and a new burning desire to cover ground for the greater good of his team.

"With him, he wasn't available for 90 minutes after his injury, but he gave the ball a way out for the team," Ten Hag said after the match. "He can be a target, he knows the right positions and he has the skills to play through. We saw that with the second goal.

"It was the right moment to bring him on the pitch."

In the past, the 26-year-old has been guilty of operating far too much for his own benefit, guilty of possessing a sole focus on goals and his own personal accolades.

Now he offers a whole lot more. It is a huge credit