Victory over Liverpool has got Erik ten Hag off the mark at Manchester United and in doing so, it appears he has solved a troublesome problem that Gary Neville branded a "disgrace" during Ralf Rangnick's reign.
Ten Hag took charge of United in July and finally won his first Premier League game on Monday night. It was a statement result for the Red Devils as they hosted a Liverpool side many expect to challenge for the title.
At the basis of United's victory was their high-intensity tactics, which left their opponents stunned. It was in stark contrast to the way they played under Rangnick during the course of last season.
In April's home game against Chelsea, Neville was left particularly unhappy with United's lack of desire. So much so that the former Red Devils skipper slammed Rangnick's side for being a "disgrace".
“You’re not going to win a title at this moment in time with the excellence of City and Liverpool, but you can run around. He must be absolutely furious, Ralf Rangnick, with what he’s watching – or what he’s not watching. 0-0 shouldn’t con us – it is a disgrace,” Neville told Sky Sports at the time.
It was an issue that reared its ugly head when United travelled to Brentford last week. The Bees ran nearly 15 kilometres more than the visitors as they smashed Ten Hag's side 4-0, which left them bottom of the Premier League.
HAVE YOUR SAY! What should be Manchester United's starting line-up against Southampton? Comment below.
That led to Ten Hag taking drastic action, hauling his humiliated troops in to the training ground on their day off less than 24 hours after the defeat. During the session, the Dutchman forced them to cover the difference in distance covered between them and Brentford, in 33 degree heat.
It appears that the running session has reaped rewards though, as the win over Liverpool would suggest. During the clash at Old Trafford, United outran Klopp's side, covering a total distance of 113.78km.
That distance was 18km more than they managed against Brentford, despite Liverpool chasing the game for much of the second-half. It was not only total distance where United looked a transformed team.
They also made 155 sprints, a whopping 90 more than they made in the humiliating defeat to Brentford. It was also 51 more sprints than Klopp's side managed, with the Reds still winless after three games of the new season.
United's new hunger could also be why they made double the tackle against Liverpool to what they completed against the Bees. That was despite them having just 30 per cent of the possession at Old Trafford, compared to the 67 per cent they had down in Brentford.
Ten Hag will hope that he can use United's performance against Liverpool as a blueprint for the rest of their season. They travel to Southampton on Saturday in their next Premier League outing, with the Saints having won their first game of the season against Leicester in the latest round of matches.
