Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic were the 'difference' in Manchester United's Premier League win at Burnley.
Pogba and Matic were recalled after they sat out the FA Cup third round win over Watford and the former scored the winner to send United top by three points.
Matic, 32, did not start in the previous three matches but his physicality ensured his selection against a tough Burnley side and United travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
Since he joined United in 2017, Matic has started in all three of their fixtures at Anfield but Solskjaer has come to depend on the partnership of Scott McTominay and Fred, both on the bench at Turf Moor.
"The frustrations were there for everyone to see and it affected our performance," Solskjaer said. "So we can't let that happen, just got to accept once in a while decisions go against you.
"Harry [Maguire]'s goal was a perfectly good one, it's a decision that we shouldn't be sat here talking about. The foul against Cavani and the red card, you go back to the foul that Luke [Shaw] did, I've not seen it yet, I can't really comment on that one.
"But half-time helped us, I thought we came out second-half and played really well. Paul's performance, him and Nemanja in midfield really played as players who know what this is about and what these games are about.
"I think they're two good pairs. In some games, we've chosen Nemanja and Paul and they've played really well together, the two of them really were the difference for us today, with the physicality, the experience, the know-how and quality.
"I'm in a lucky position, I've got many good midfielders to choose from: who's fit? Who's fresh? All these things will play in my mind and some of these have given me food for thought."
