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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Erik ten Hag hails Manchester United ‘potential’ after hammering Liverpool in first pre-season match

Erik ten Hag saw plenty to be encouraged by as Manchester United hammered Liverpool in his first match in charge, but the Dutchman warned his team not to get carried away.

An extremely strong United side were 3-0 up with barely more than half an hour gone in Bangkok, with Jadon Sancho, Fred and Anthony Martial all getting on the scoresheet. Facundo Pellistri added a fourth after the break to cap a perfect start to the Ten Hag era.

There was plenty of pressing from United, as the Dutchman tries to implement his style of play on the team, and it caused a young Liverpool defence problems.

While Ten Hag was understandably pleased with what he saw, he also insisted there was much for United to improve on.

“We did the press, a few mistakes in pressing, conceded some chances, but we also created a lot,” Ten Hag said after the match.

“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.

“[It will take] a lot of time. Believe me. I have seen a lot of mistakes. Liverpool played three teams, and they were not at their strongest. We have not overestimated this result.

“We have to be careful, but still, I have seen some really good things, and I think what we see, we have a lot of creativity and speed in front. We have potential.”

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