Manchester United’s Dutch manager Erik ten Hag earned his first Premier League victory with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday and then credited his team’s attitude for the victory.

United looked a completely different team to the one which was humiliated 4-0 at Brentford last week after an opening day home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The former Ajax Amsterdam manager left out captain Harry Maguire and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and his decision to go for pace up front and a new look defence paid off.

“We can talk about tactical but it is all about attitude. There was communication and a fighting spirit,” said the United boss.

“I wanted a different approach and a different attitude and that is what they brought on the pitch. It is only a start. We can play with much more composure and much more danger. Be a team and have a good spirit — and that is what we saw today,” he added.

Marcus Rashford netted his first league goal since January after fellow England international Jadon Sancho, who has also struggled of late, opened the scoring.

Liverpool pulled a goal back through Mohamed Salah, but United held on to secure the win and leave Juergen Klopp’s side without a victory from their three opening games and with just two points.

“It makes me happy that Rashford and Sancho got the goals. (Bruno) Fernandes took the responsibility and the captaincy encouraged him.

“I am happy with the performance but we have to bring it every game. Don’t just bring it against Liverpool. Every Premier League game is difficult, we need to bring it to every game. It starts, once again, with the spirit,” Ten Hag said.

‘Tricky situation’

Liverpool remain without a win after their opening three games of the season and manager Juergen Klopp was far from happy.

“We are in a tricky situation injury-wise. We got through the week with 14, 15 senior players available and now have to make sure they don’t get injured. We should have won this game. I know it sounds ridiculous but that is how I saw it,” he said.

“I am concerned about our situation, but that is how it is. We prepare for Bournemouth (on Saturday) and Newcastle (next Wednesday) now.” he added.

“It was not a perfect performance, it was clear United would get out of the blocks but we were not 100 per cent ready.

“We had to keep chasing the game and that is not what you want to do. It makes it difficult with their counter-attacking threat. The second goal is hard to take, it was offside, but we have to work with it,” added the German.

Robertson’s warning

Liverpool must stop making life difficult for themselves by conceding early goals, defender Andy Robertson said.

Liverpool have conceded first in all their league games this season and Robertson said another shaky start at Old Trafford swung the tide in their opponents’ favour.

“We give every team a goal start which is the basis of the game, you can’t keep on giving yourself an uphill battle,” Robertson told Sky Sports.

“We’ve conceded an early goal again, we’ve started slow again and that’s what needs to change. We can’t keep going one behind.”

The Scot added that Liverpool’s habit of starting slowly was a long-running issue, pointing to a string of results from the end of the previous season.

“Even when you go back to the end of last season, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Real Madrid, Southampton, teams like that, that was the back end of last season and it had already kicked in,” Robertson said.

“So it needs to change. Like I said, in this league against good teams, you can’t keep giving them a goal start and just now unfortunately that’s what we’re doing.”

Casemiro contract

Manchester United have completed the signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid, the club said on Monday, with the Brazil midfielder penning a contract until June 2026 with the option of another year.

The 30-year-old was unveiled before the Old Trafford crowd ahead of United’s game against Liverpool.

CR7 part of United plans

Manchester United’s new manager Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo still features in his plans for the season despite dropping the Portugal international from the club’s starting line-up in their win over Liverpool.

When asked if the 37-year-old can still fit into his style of play, Ten Hag told reporters: “I think he can.”

“In his whole career, he, under several managers, he did in several styles and systems,” Ten Hag added.

“He always performed, so, why he can’t do this? For me, his age is not an issue. If you are young, you are good enough, and when you are old and you still deliver the performance, you are also good enough.”