Winning start

By Chris O'Brien
July 12 2022

It was only a friendly - and Liverpool fielded a quite ridiculous 32 different players, but thumping the Scousers is always a treat. Erik ten Hag's Manchester United got pre-season underway with a stylish 4-0 win in Bangkok; and even took home a trophy with a design that would do Mario Kart proud.

Overseas friendlies against fellow Premier League teams always feel a bit silly. Glamorous tours have become part and parcel of the modern game; but it always feels more real to play local teams or at the very least teams you don't meet domestically.

But, alas, for the more than 50,000 in attendance in Bangkok, this was a chance to witness players from one of Europe's fiercest rivalries go toe to toe - and see those players they certaintly did. Liverpool fielded 32 players in all - changing their entire outfield every 30 minutes - with United giving a run out to a comparatively modest 22 members of the squad.

United, without absent Cristiano Ronaldo. named a familiar shape and XI - with Anthony Martial sitting up top ahead of a dangerous three of Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. Scott McTominay sat alongside Fred in midfield, with Diego Dalot, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw lining up ahead of David de Gea at the back.

As those teams were announced - with Liverpool naming Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and a host of other big names on the bench, United suddenly looked very good value at 7/4 with the bookies and a strong start seemed a must. And so it proved - as ten Hag watched his charges storm into a three goal lead after only 33 minutes.

Sancho, under pressure to deliver this season, got the goalscoring underway. Liverpool failed to clear a Fernandes cross, and Isaac Mabaya knocked the ball into the path of the Englishman who drilled a low effort home.

The free-flowing football will have delighted United fans in the ground and watching on MUTV - and Brazilian Fred, too often unfairly criticised, dispatched a great finish on 30 minutes as he chipped over Alisson after a Martial pass; the Frenchman also excellent for United.

Three minutes later, and following 10 changes made by Jurgen Klopp, Martial made it three. As he looks to revive a United career that looked over months ago, he dispatched a one-on-one against Alisson - the only Liverpool player still on the pitch who had started the game - and United were suddenly in pre-season paradise!

United made ten changes at the interval - with custodian De Gea the only player remaining from the starting XI; though he was later replaced by Tom Heaton, who will hopefully get a deserved shot at being second choice stopper this season.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly were the most senior players entering the fray - joined by Anthony Elanga. Charlie Savage, Tyrell Malacia, Facundo Pellistri, Amad Diallo and Zidane Iqbal for the second-half. 

Liverpool undoubtebly improved after the break, as the tempo of the game remained decent, but it was United who grabbed the fourth and final goal on 76 minutes.

Bailly turned Franz Beckenbauer with a stunning run out from the back - charging the length of the pitch before Pellestri dispatched the fatal blow to Liverpool. Another great pre-season move.

This was a morale-boosting win for United - amid concern at a lack of transfer activity thus far, and with doubts over Ronaldo's future rumbling on. Though 54 players being involved is frankly bonkers, United played some eye-catching attacking football and defended well in the second-half when a young team was up against Liverpool's star names, and came through unscathed. 

For their trouble, United win the Bangkok Century Cup - the presented trophy was a Cup sat inside an emormous replica model of the stadium, itself sat on a giant black plinth. It resembled something in-between a Mario Kart trophy and a luxury Lego set - and it now belongs to Manchester United. Whether it will ever be seen again, remains to be seen!

But, Liverpool ... "Bangkok Century Cup champions, you'll never sing that!"

Full Time - Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool