Three things we learned from Erik ten Hag’s first game in charge as Manchester United crush Liverpool

Erik ten Hag’s period has began with a win (Image: Getty)

The Erik ten Hag period acquired off to an virtually excellent begin in the present day as Manchester United made gentle work of rivals Liverpool with a 4-0 victory in Bangkok.

All eyes have been on the Dutchman earlier than kick-off to see how the previous Ajax supervisor would set his facet up and the way they’d fare in opposition to a facet that Ten Hag described as ‘perhaps the most effective crew on this planet’.

Although the character of the sport and the below-strength facet picked by Liverpool means no one at Previous Trafford must be getting carried away with the end result, there was nonetheless a lot to be taught from Ten Hag’s first recreation in cost and it was an excellent marker for a way the Dutchman plans to play this season.

Urgent from the entrance

Man Utd adopted Erik ten Hag’s urgent directions (Image: Getty)

Except for the apparent gaps in high quality, the largest distinction between United and their fundamental rivals in recent times has been enjoying model.

Whereas Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis work as ferociously off the ball as with it, United maintained a deep-lying line of defense underneath Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ralf Rangnick tried to vary that when he was appointed, choosing a 4-2-2-2 system in his first recreation in opposition to Crystal Palace. However the United beginning XI adhered to his ways for all of 35 minutes and it was shortly deserted, whether or not by selection or the crew’s incapacity to observe the directions.

Ten Hag’s Ajax facet have been well-known for his or her urgent means and it was clear from the offset in Bangkok that he had instructed his United facet to do the identical.

Lower than ten minutes into the match that a lot was evident when six United gamers packed Liverpool into the nook, with Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof left one-on-one with their markers on the midway line.

The Reds truly performed their method out of the state of affairs they usually practically made United pay on numerous events within the first half after they naviaged by the press.

However Ten Hag has solely been working with the gamers for 2 weeks and it'll take time for them to hold out his strategies instinctively. This, for now, was an excellent begin.

Tony Martial scores once more

Anthony Martial was on the scoresheet (Image: Getty)

It appeared like we’d seen the final of Anthony Martial when he joined Sevilla on mortgage in January.

The Frenchman made it clear that he considered the transfer as a possibility to earn a everlasting transfer to the Spanish membership however one objective in 11 appearances was not sufficient to persuade them to signal the striker on a everlasting foundation.

Ten Hag initially felt he had no place for Martial in his squad however Cristiano Ronaldo’s revelation that he needs to depart the membership has given the Frenchman an sudden second likelihood.

Whereas there’s been little doubt about Martial’s means throughout his seven years at Previous Trafford, there’s been big query marks over his perspective and software.

However Martial displayed a powerful starvation throughout his 45 minutes on the sector, significantly along with his work-rate out of possession. He harried Nat Phillips and Joe Gomez after they had the ball, not permitting the Liverpool centre-backs to settle within the searing warmth.

Martial’s fantastic work was rewarded when he pounced on a mistake from Phillips and he burst by on objective earlier than lifting an effort over Alisson to place United three up.

The youngsters are alright

Iqbal was improbable within the second half (Image: Getty)

Ten Hag made ten adjustments at half-time, eradicating the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Martial for Amad Diallo, Charlie Savage and Facundo Pellistri.

The Pink Devils struggled to keep up the attacking momentum from the primary half they usually have been up in opposition to it when Jurgen Klopp introduced on the calvary on the hour-mark as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Thiago entered the stage.

However after a sluggish begin following the interval, United’s kids settled into their stride they usually had a fourth quarter-hour from time when Eric Bailly stepped out of defence, gave the ball vast to Diallo to tee up Pellestri for a clear end.

Tyrell Malacia impressed at left-back making his debut, whereas Savage barely put a foot improper in entrance of him.

Nevertheless it was teen Zidane Iqbal that stole the present within the second half, with the Iraq worldwide displaying a maturity past his 19 years as he got here up in opposition to Fabinho and Thiago.

The teenager not too long ago signed a brand new long-term cope with United and Ten Hag will likely be inspired by the way in which the midfielder got here deep to take possession and was snug at bursting by midfield to set issues up.

Although Iqbal is more likely to stay on the fringes of the first-team squad this time period, it was a well timed reminder from the Iraqi of his qualities – significantly as Ten Hag targets Christian Eriksen and Frenkie de Jong.

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