Few anticipated the Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United would finally spark into life like this.
But on a rousing night at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said this stunning victory over Liverpool was just the start for his team.
The evening began with fan protests against the hated owners, the Glazers, but turned into a rare night of celebration.
United were completely different to the side humiliated 4-0 at Brentford a week earlier after an opening-day home loss to Brighton.
Ten Hag made four changes to the team that crashed in west London, his biggest calls dropping captain Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His boldness paid off as a frontline of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga caused havoc, with Sancho and Rashford scoring to secure a first win under the Dutch manager.
Ten Hag said: “I wanted a different approach, a different attitude.
“That is what they bring on the pitch, that is what makes me satisfied. We can talk about tactical, but it is all about attitude. Now you see we bring attitude on the pitch and there was communication, a fighting spirit and there was a team — and you can see what they can achieve because they can play good football.
“It is just the start, we have to keep humble, we can play a lot better if we keep more composure. We have good players — now be a good team and then we will act.
“It is not always about what we said, I said we had to act and not talk a lot, make sure you are a team, battle and also be brave.”
Ronaldo has been pushing for a move to a club in the Champions League, but despite that and his omission from the starting XI, Ten Hag insisted the 37-year-old forward can fit into his plans.
He said: “I think he can. In his whole career he did it under several managers, in several styles and systems. He always performed so why can’t he do this? His age is not an issue.”
Luke Shaw and Fred also dropped to the bench, with Ten Hag saying the changes were part of his game-plan to tackle Liverpool. He said: “We have a squad and then we have a way of play, a style, but also, a game-plan, and you look what is the best approach to the game, and that is what we did.
“We do it every game, so, today we picked those players but it can be different on Saturday against Southampton.
Ten Hag’s boldness paid off as a frontline of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga caused havoc
“We need a squad, because we have many games to cover, and so, if we make a team out of the squad and we stick together as a squad then we can achieve a lot.”
Rashford raced clear to score in brilliant fashion and claim his first Premier League goal since January.
The forward said: “It was a goal I’ve scored quite regularly so it is important for me to get those types of goals.”
The result meant United moved above Liverpool in the table to compound the Merseysiders’ frustrating start to the campaign. Last season’s runners-up have just two points from three games, and only had Mo Salah’s late goal to show for their meagre efforts.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said: “I’m very disappointed about the result. It is a game where everything was clear what United would do. Were they more aggressive than us at the beginning? Probably, yes.
“It was exactly the game United wanted to play. That’s our fault, you could say.”
Liverpool had 17 shots on goal with five on target, and Klopp added: “We should have won this game, I know it sounds ridiculous but that is how I saw it.”
