With Cristiano Ronaldo as the bench presser, Manchester United beat arch-rivals Liverpool FC for the first time since March 2018 and plunged Jürgen Klopp into the crisis.
The English football record champion won the fast-paced duel of Premier League false starters 2-1 (1-0) and left the unfamiliar bottom of the table. Team manager Klopp, on the other hand, has a lot of work to do after the third game without a win and the fall in 16th place.
Former Dortmunder Jadon Sancho (16th) and Marcus Rashford (54th) scored for United and redeemed the new team boss Erik ten Hag, who had already been counted after two bankruptcies. The Dutchman was also rewarded for his courage: Ten Hag dropped both superstar Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire from the starting XI after the embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brentford. Mo Salah (81st) could no longer prevent Liverpool’s first defeat in the 22nd league game of the year.
United, twice humiliated by Liverpool last season (5-0 and 4-0), started furiously at Old Trafford. Anthony Elanga hit the post (10′), a little later Sancho completed a strong attack with a skillful individual action. However, the Klopp team recovered and pushed for an equalizer until the break – in vain.
United fans protest against club owners
Even after the change of sides, Liverpool initially had more of the game before a mistake by captain Jordan Henderson initiated the 0-2. England striker Rashford remained ice cold in a one-on-one with keeper Alisson Becker. Salah created tension again, and Ronaldo came on in the 85th minute.
Before the match, thousands of United fans demonstrated with chants and flags against the American Glazer family, who have owned the traditional club since 2005. “The fish stinks from the head,” the club’s Supporters Trust had previously explained.