Manchester United stars were spurred into action against Liverpool by Erik ten Hag’s bold calls

Early on Monday afternoon, sources close to Old Trafford were promising: ‘You will see a different Manchester United tonight.’

It felt fanciful. Anything other than a third defeat to start the season was hard to envisage. But there was an assertiveness around the manager, Erik ten Hag, in the week building up to the Liverpool match.

The Dutchman’s culture of accountability, and personal responsibility, forced a good number of his squad to react after the 4-0 thrashing at Brentford.

When people were talking about a different United, it was in terms of team selection and attitude. In this case, one was a product of the other. 

As game day approached and it became clear Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire — two of the most senior voices inside the dressing room — would be dropped, there was evidence that the new boss would not be messing about.

The players took notice of Ten Hag’s tough decision-making and it stirred a response. Many will say they should not need this, but it offered those picked to start extra incentive to earn a result.

Furthermore, it has emerged that Ten Hag joined in with the eight-and-a-half mile run he made his players do after the Brentford debacle, with the distance representing how far they had been outrun in London.

The Dutch manager took the bold call to drop captain Harry Maguire (right) from the defence

Ten Hag also left superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) on the subs’ bench for 86 minutes

United then ran 11 miles further against Liverpool than they did against Brentford and made 90 more sprints.

Those numbers come with caveats — they enjoyed far less of the ball against Liverpool, and thus ran more hunting back possession — but they do suggest a side more inclined to put a shift in on the night.

‘There was communication, there was a fighting spirit and especially there was a team, and you can see what they can achieve,’ Ten Hag said.

Full back Luke Shaw was on the bench alongside Ronaldo and Maguire. His replacement, 23-year-old summer signing Tyrell Malacia, made an instant impact on his first start.

The Red Devils beat Liverpool 2-1 on Monday and Ten Hag will hope their resurgence continues

Centre back Lisandro Martinez had been criticised after the 4-0 defeat against Brentford, with questions asked about whether he has enough physical stature for English football.

He went some way to answering those critics against Liverpool’s nippier forward line.

‘He has this fighting spirit. He showed it,’ Raphael Varane said.

United need to show some more of what they displayed at Old Trafford on Monday now — and Ten Hag will hope the reaction to his bold moves is remembered over the coming weeks.