The new manager of Manchester United Erik ten Hag has shown that he is the right man for the job after thrashing Liverpool 4-0 in a friendly match in Bangkok on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
With the 4-0 victory in the friendly, Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager got off to the best possible start and also restored players winning mentality.
There is some disagreement about the extent to which any match between United and Liverpool can ever be referred to as a “friendly,” but new Old Trafford manager Erik ten Hag would be happy with what he saw at the Rajamangala Stadium.
During the friendly game, Jadon Sancho gave United the lead in the 12th minute, but Jurgen Klopp adhered to his promise of using a new outfield 10 for each half of the game.
Before the end of the first half which perfectly worked in favor of Man United, Fred and Anthony Martial extended United’s lead with a goal each.
After Liverpool’s debutant Fabio Carvalho and Luis Diaz both struck the post, Facundo Pellistri finished off a scoreline that has given Manchester United a lot of hope ahead of the coming season.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah who came in as a second half substitute hit the sidebar and Liverpool’s new signing Darwin Nunez who ought to have taken advantage of the rebound blew up the chance.
Despite Liverpool selecting a less experienced starting lineup, David De Gea had to make three early saves before Sancho broke the deadlock to calm United’s tension in the friendly game after last season’s thrashings against the Reds which were 5-0 and 4-0 home and away.
In the 18th minute, Carvalho struck the goal post, and Diaz ought to have scored on the rebound. The Colombian winger missed his kick and then missed the outside of the upright with a 25-yard attempt a short while later.
At the other end, South American magic struck when Fred picked up a loose ball on the edge of the eighteen-yard box and fired a finish that left Alisson helpless. The goal will undoubtedly come up during Brazil’s next gathering.
After Fred’s well-worked goal, Martial then pushed defensive stand-in Rhys Williams out of the shot for an assured finish.
The majority of Klopp’s first-choice outfield starting eleven were included in his third selection, and record acquisition Darwin Nunez made his debut. The record signing expertly handled Andy Robertson’s pass on his chest in the 70th minute, and Tom Heaton made a good stop as he fired across goal.
Pellestri sped away on the break and passed to Amad before completing the scoring to make an embarrassing 4-0 victory over their Premier League rivals.
Salah came close on a few occasions, but United’s clean sheet was kept intact thanks to the post and some valiant last-ditch work from Eric Bailly.
However, United’s victory over Liverpool on Tuesday was executed by a cohesive team rather than by individuals plowing their furrows. Manchester United’s play had zip to it and their pressing had hunger. It was interesting to watch.
Despite his efforts on downplaying the significance of the outcome, the Dutchman would be encouraged to see training tactics translate so easily into match scenarios so early in his term.
The fact that United beat Liverpool 4-0 in Bangkok will mean nothing if they lose when they play each other in the Premier League on August 22 at Old Trafford. However, that doesn’t change the reality that there were many positives in the friendly game.
Ten Hag will need consistency now that the Australian part of the tour is approaching and that the 2022-2023 Premier League season is also approaching.
