Three goals in the first half helped Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United team defeat rival Liverpool in Bangkok by an impressive score of 4-0.
Against a Liverpool team that made 21 changes over the course of the game’s 90 minutes, including cameos for new signings Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho during the final 30 minutes, Jadon Sancho scored first before Fred and Anthony Martial extended United’s lead.
Liverpool was made to pay for a combination of their wastefulness at one end and defensive mistakes at the other as young Uruguayan Facundo Pellistri added a fourth just before the end.
It is, of course, only the start of pre-season, with some Liverpool players literally returning from holiday in the hours before Saturday’s tour departure.
Of the starting line-ups, United’s also contained far more players expected to be involved on the opening Premier League weekend.
But still, after the torture their fans have experienced over the past 12 months, this was a blessed relief and Ten Hag was applauded by the United contingent when his face was shown on the big screen in the dying minutes.
Fred’s goal was outrageous. The Brazilian polarises opinion like no other United player, but his brilliant chip over fellow countryman Alisson, executed with precision from 20 yards, was jaw-dropping and will doubtless provide some fun when the pair next meet up on international duty.
