Rio Ferdinand said Manchester United did things they have been "crying out" for following their 4-0 win over Liverpool in their pre-season opener in Bangkok.
The Reds made a winning start to their pre-season campaign, registering a thumping victory in new manager Erik ten Hag's first game in charge. Jadon Sancho, Fred and Anthony Martial scored in the first-half, ensuring United found themselves 3-0 up at half-time.
But despite making wholesale changes at the break, with just goalkeeper David de Gea staying on the pitch, United increased their tally after the half-time interval, scoring a fourth goal through substitute Facundo Pellistri. Ten Hag's side did not have the same zip and energy as they did in the first-half, but they produced a professional showing.
READ MORE: United player ratings after Liverpool victory
Liverpool fielded a mixed side in the first-half, before throwing on some of their senior figures in the second, including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah. New signing Darwin Nunez also stepped off the bench.
Although the result is fairly meaningless in the grand scheme of things, it was an excellent start to pre-season for the Reds, and Ten Hag will be looking for more of the same over the coming weeks. And for former centre-back Ferdinand, it was an encouraging start.
On Twitter, Ferdinand said: "Seen a few things we've been crying out for the last few years. But we've seen it sparingly before. All in all, [a] good day at the office! I'm feeling the Ten Hag look on the touch line."
On the performance and victory, Ten Hag himself commented: "Of course we are satisfied today because I think it was a team with a great spirit, and we know we have just started. We did the press, a few mistakes in pressing, conceded some chances, but we also created a lot.
"I think our team played brave, played proactive. We have to work really hard to get out of the mistakes, but of course we are happy with the first game."
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