Is it fair to say Erik ten Hag’s reign has begun? After the two embarrassing results that pockmarked the start of his tenure, a response was desperately needed. Defeating Liverpool, such a familiar foe, will provide the uplift that Manchester United have been longing for.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but Ten Hag has his first points and inaugural triumph as United manager. An emphatic step in the right direction considering recent weeks.

United’s fall is highlighted by this being their first Premier League victory over Liverpool since March 2018, almost four-and-a-half years ago. One positive result doesn’t bring an end to United’s flailing ways — and the latest anti-Glazer protests of up to 10,000 marching to the stadium demonstrated that — but it represented a foundation on which to build on the pitch.

On this Monday evening Old Trafford rocked for the first time in a long time and in providing the scene for a United display featuring both passion and energy, it also had a bit of its swagger back. That United’s goals came via Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford added to the feeling that this represent the start of the Ten Hag era. The team was also in his image.

The Dutch manager had made obvious albeit big calls when it came to his starting XI: dropping captain Harry Maguire along with Cristiano Ronaldo and also benching Fred and Luke Shaw was a sizeable wielding of the axe, but his selection paid off. Tyrell Malacia starting his first game since arriving from Feyenoord impressed at left back while Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane formed a decent partnership at centre-back.

The late rally from Liverpool, in which Mo Salah gave Jurgen Klopp’s hope of snatching an unwarranted leveller, didn’t fully materialise as United’s backline also stood up to scrutiny and held strong. The final 10 minutes were nervy for the home supporters but their victory was a deserved one.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s stuttering start to the season has now become an issue; collecting just two points from the first nine available means they are some seven points off the pace. Even though it is early days, there is ground for them to make up and few signs of Klopp’s winning machine clicking into gear after last season’s mammoth run.

Injuries haven’t aided Liverpool’s cause but Klopp will be the first to admit that his team’s first two away performances of the campaign have been substantially below the high standards that they have set.

Story of the game

Ten Hag’s four changes from the team ultimately humiliated by Brentford last Saturday was a demonstration that the new manager isn’t afraid of making big decisions for the big occasions.  The front three that Ten Hag started were selected to bring pace and energy to a United attack that only had one goal to its name in the opening two games — and that was an own goal.

Amidst a fast start, Rashford almost broke through Liverpool’s backline after being put through by Christian Eriksen. Soon after, Scott McTominay cut open the Liverpool defence and Bruno Fernandes raced to get to the ball ahead of Joe Gomez. The United playmaker flicked across to Elanga who was afforded time and space but could only strike against Alisson’s post. United’s threat was clear and the visitors appeared wobbly under the pressure.

United fizzed passes and played at a high tempo. A goal to cap off their promising start arrived with 16 minutes played. Malacia played a wall pass off Eriksen and entered the Liverpool area before pulling the ball back for Sancho. The 22-year-old shaped to shoot into the bottom corner but dummied, placing James Milner on his backside while Virgil van Dijk stood off the attacker, and slotted into the opposite corner.

It was only what Ten Hag’s team deserved. This front-footed approach had been missing in previous outings this season when United had appeared to fall into games. On the other hand, Liverpool have now conceded first in each of their last seven games. Once again they were going to have to come from behind.

In truth it had been an underwhelming start from Liverpool, in keeping with the early stages of their season. Klopp had made three changes to his team — one being the enforced absence of Darwin Nunez — but they were slow out of the blocks.

Luis Diaz, scorer of the equaliser in last week’s draw with Crystal Palace, registered the visitors’ first shot on 19 minutes but it didn’t trouble David De Gea and sailed wide. Apart from the Colombian and the odd burst from Harvey Elliott on the opposite flank, Liverpool’s attack was non-existent.

Had Alisson not got crucial fingertips to Eriksen’s whipped free-kick, then United would have doubled their lead within the first half-hour. Rather they were left counting themselves lucky to go in at the break with their one-goal advantage still in tact. After a build-up of Liverpool pressure, Milner’s header from a corner was smashed against Martinez by Fernandes on the United goal-line, somehow the ball stayed out.

A response from Liverpool was imperative, they had scored in each of their Premier League games this calendar year, and a strong start to the second half seemed on the cards — but Ten Hag’s half-time changes put paid to that. By bringing on Anthony Martial for Elanga in a tactical switch, Rashford moved to the left channel and within eight minutes it proved fruitful.

Henderson couldn’t intercept in midfield as United launched their counter and quickly Martial was on the ball and releasing Rashford. Having remained just the right side of Gomez, Rashford raced into the area before calmly dispatching a low finish into the far corner of Alisson’s net. The Stretford End was rocking, as were Liverpool.

The sight of Rashford, whose drift on the pitch has been one of the sorriest results of United’s recent woes, scoring his first Premier League goal since January was perhaps symbolic of a change of fortunes. He could have added a second moments later but his well-placed effort was pushed wide by the Liverpool ‘keeper.

Liverpool, with their collection of injuries, had fairly few resources to tap into on the bench in an attempt to wrestle back any semblance of a positive result. Klopp sent on Fabinho, who was deemed not fit enough to start, for Henderson, who had struggled in centre-field. And Fabio Carvalho arrived for Milner.

The 19-year-old signed from Fulham did ignite Liverpool’s attack and it was his shot following a corner that De Gea pushed out but only straight to Salah who tapped home. The visitors were coming on strong in the final minutes; this now became a test of character for United. That they held on meant Ten Hag’s reign is up and running.

Teams

Man Utd: De Gea; Dalot (Wan-Bissaka 86), Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Eriksen (Van de Beek 86), McTominay; Elanga (Martial 46), Fernandes, Sancho (Fred 71); Rashford (Ronaldo 86).

Subs (not used): Heaton, Maguire, Shaw, Garnacho.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas 85); Elliott, Henderson (Fabinho 59), Milner (Carvalho 73); Salah, Firmino, Diaz.

Subs (not used): Adrian, Davies, Clark, Bajcetic, Phillips, Van den Berg.

Referee: Michael Oliver.