By Victor Kanayo
Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 with a scintillating performance to give Erik ten Hag his first win of the campaign.
Jadon Sancho put the Red Devils 1-0 ahead in the 16th minute before Marcus Rashford’s goal in the second-half doubled United’s lead.
Mohamed Salah clawed one back late on, but Liverpool could not find a leveller at Old Trafford and remain winless in their opening three matches of the season.
Manchester United were at the lowest ebb after the 4-0 humiliation at Brentford followed an opening day defeat at home to Brighton.
And while thousands protested against the ownership of the Glazers before kick-off and the chants continued throughout the game, United’s fans rallied behind a performance of fierce intensity and commitment that left Liverpool bullied for long periods.
New £60m signing Casemiro was paraded in front of the Stretford End before kick-off and how he must have relished the magnificent atmosphere inside Old Trafford as United turned the misery of their abject first two league performances on its head.
Liverpool won 5-0 here last season and 4-0 at Anfield but United mustered more energy and aggression in the first ten minutes here than in both of those embarrassing performances.
Ten Hag employed pace to take advantage of Liverpool’s high defensive line and they should have been ahead even before Sancho opened the scoring, Elanga hitting the post after racing clear.
United contested every challenge with a fired up Lisandro Martinez setting the tone early on with a robust challenge on Mo Salah.
Earlier, Casemiro was introduced as a Manchester United player before the club’s home game with rivals Liverpool on Monday after joining from Real Madrid.
United will pay up to £70m for the Brazil midfielder, who has signed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
Casemiro says he is joining “the biggest team in the world” after bidding an emotional farewell to Real.
The 30-year-old becomes one of the top earners at Old Trafford but he says the move is not motivated by money.
