Erik ten Hag revealed that the excellent 2-1 victory over Liverpool in August at Old Trafford was the turning point in Manchester United’s season, when speaking to the club’s official media team in Spain [manutd.com].
After back-to-back defeats against Brighton at home and Brentford away, it felt as though the walls were closing in on United but ten Hag and his team produced a performance that will live long in the memory of those at the ground and those watching on TV as United with their backs against the wall defeated arch-rivals Liverpool 2-1, thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
Passion. #MUFC || #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/LiwpyDbIC3
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 22, 2022
After suffering two chastening defeats to Brighton at home, where United lost 2-1 and lost to Brentford 4-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium, it was the mentality that satisfied the Dutchman as much as the thrilling performance.
“I think, definitely. So especially in the mentality, the belief that we can compete with big opponents. That we can beat them. That gives a certain belief in the group, that we can compete with certain opponents. It doesn’t matter which it is, because Liverpool is a really good team, a world-class team. So, when you beat them, you can take that belief into other games”, the boss told the official Man United media team in an interview sit down with United Academy graduate Danny Webber.
Last season, United could not compete with the top teams as they were soundly beaten by Liverpool by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0 and City wiped the floor with United by winning 2-0 at Old Trafford and 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium, which drained any confidence and belief that they could compete against the elite teams.
Those scars could have easily carried over from last season into this season, however, the players did not let those performances against last season’s top two and the opening two defeats affect them as they produced a resilient performance to defeat the Merseysideiders, which would have no doubt given the players the confidence and belief that they can compete against the top teams, which ten Hag stressed above.
The opener 🔥
🔴 @Sanchooo10 #MUFC || #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/t5ECzffXHa
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 22, 2022
The win over Liverpool proved to be a catalyst that saw an upturn in form because United then won four of their next five games, with their only defeat coming in the Manchester Derby, where City won 6-3.
