Erik ten Hag given unexpected Casemiro luxury vs Southampton thanks to Manchester United victory

Monday night was exactly what the doctor ordered, but who would have dared to believe that Manchester United could turn it around in so much style. Brentford felt like rock bottom for United who have attempted to plunge to those depths before. No hope. No fight. No points.

Trepidation would then welcome the Reds fans when they dared to check the fixture list after the humiliation in the capital. Liverpool had been a regular thorn in the United side post-Ferguson.

Erik ten Hag had other ideas as he managed to dig deep into his bag of tricks in the days leading up to the clash with Jurgen Klopp's team, and fully delivering. What we witnessed from United was a performance that few thought could be achieved.

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From front to back, Ten Hag's men showed their grit and will to fight for the shirt. In the space of 90 minutes things looked rosier.

Reds supporters will have been buoyed before kick-off by the arrival of Casemiro to the Theatre of Dreams. As he strolled confidently out onto the hallowed turf, many would have seen a guaranteed starter for Southampton acknowledging them.

It seemed impossible that he could be left on the bench for Saturday's trip to the south coast considering the lack of depth in the midfield areas. But, Ten Hag may not need to pull the trigger on his new weapon just yet.

Scott McTominay's performance against Liverpool was by no means ground-breaking but he more than played his part in a team that managed to frustrate last season's runners-up. At the moment he is in the firing line to be replaced for the Brazilian midfielder but, following a victory of that magnitude, is there really any need to change.

Casemiro has only had a week to meet his new