Manchester United vs Liverpool: Red Devils battle to huge win against bitter rivals

Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 as a display full of fight, grit and quality stunned Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The Erik ten Hag era has officially started at Manchester United.

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Jadon Sancho scored a classy goal to set United on their way to a first win under Erik ten Hag, while Marcus Rashford punished more slack Liverpool defending with a fine finish on the counter. Liverpool did pull a goal back late on through Mohamed Salah, but it was too little too late.

Erik ten Hag left Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire out of the starting lineup and new signings Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia, plus Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane and Diogo Dalot, totally justified those huge calls.

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In truth, every single United player ran themselves into the ground for the cause and this was a hugely positive reaction to their disappointing defeats against Brighton and Brentford to open the season.

With the win United have three points, climbing above Liverpool who have two points from their opening three games. This was Liverpool’s first defeat in 22 Premier League games, as Klopp will point to huge injury issues but his side simply didn’t turn up for most of one of their biggest games of the season.

Liverpool’s midfield overrun: Starting James Milner and Harvey Elliott ahead of Fabinho didn’t quite work and Liverpool’s midfield was so easy to play through in the first half. Missing Thiago and Naby Keita is a blow but Jordan Henderson couldn’t hold things down on his own and Fabinho was missed badly as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez was left ruthlessly exposed. When Fabinho came on in the second half they improved, but it wasn’t enough. This game