Erik ten Hag got off to a dream start as Manchester United manager with a 4-0 friendly win over Liverpool in Bangkok.
How much any meeting between United and Liverpool can ever be considered a “friendly” is up for debate and new Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag will have been pleased with what he saw at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp stuck to his pledge of selecting a different outfield 10 for each half-hour of the contest and Fred and Anthony Martial struck either side of the first batch of wholesale changes, with Jadon Sancho having given United a 12th-minute lead.
Facundo Pellistri completed a scoreline that flattered United slightly, as Mohamed Salah hit the post after debutant Fabio Carvalho and Luis Diaz did likewise for the Premier League runners-up.
David De Gea prevented both of last season’s thrashings against Liverpool from being worse than 5-0 and 4-0 and, despite Liverpool naming a more inexperienced starting line-up, he was forced into a trio of early saves before Sancho broke the deadlock.
Carvalho clattered the post in the 18th minute and Diaz should have scored from the rebound. The Colombian winger missed his kick and, a few moments later, whipped a 25-yard effort against the outside of the upright.
South American magic came at the other end, with Fred collecting a loose ball on the edge of the D before dispatching a finish that left Alisson stranded — a goal that is sure to be a topic of conversation on Brazil’s next get-together. Martial then harried defensive replacement Rhys Williams out of possession to finish confidently.
Klopp’s third outfield selection boasted most of his first-choice starters and heralded a debut for record signing Darwin Nunez. The record signing brilliantly controlled Andy Robertson’s 70th-minute pass on his chest and Tom Heaton saved well when he fired across goal.
A different Uruguayan completed the scoring as Pellestri streamed away on the break and exchanged passes with Amad to slot home.
Salah went close a couple of times but a combination of the post and some brave last-ditch work from Eric Bailly preserved United’s clean sheet.
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