Manchester United roared their Premier League season into life against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The intensity of United's performance was a direct contrast to the whimpering defeats they suffered against Brighton and Brentford, as Erik ten Hag's side looked like a team possessed. They flung themselves into every tackle and pressed Liverpool's dynamic front-line from the outset.
Jurgen Klopp's side were no doubt far from their best - but United forced their opponents into sloppy passes and mistakes as they stamped their authority on the match. The defeat was Liverpool's first of the calendar year in the league , something which no doubt would have brought a smile to the faces of fans after Klopp demanded all three points be awarded to his side if the game was called off amid the protest against the Glazers.
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United now turn their attentions to Southampton on Saturday, and the match will be a polar opposite experience for the players. Away from the roar of the home crowd and the floodlights at Old Trafford - will the players be able to match their intensity for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off at St Mary's Stadium?
It was not uncommon under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for United to stun fans with a performance akin to Monday night's - only to come unstuck a short while later when they had to break teams down. Ten Hag will be all too aware of the different challenge that faces his side this weekend.
Speaking after the Liverpool victory to the club's in-house media, Ten Hag said the win was just the beginning of United's season.
“It is only the start, we have to keep humble, but I think we can play a bit better if we have a little bit more composure, give an extra pass, we can be much more dangerous, because, as I said, we have good players with good ability, with good spirit and you will act. That is what we showed today, in moments, but also when you have to make the game, you have to be better on the ball.
"Today is a highlight but we just started. What we have to get is the way to above. There is a lot of room for improvement and that is what we have to work for but I hope the players now understand the basis always of a team. Fighting spirit."
United will need to show a different side to their game as they will need more patience with the ball as they look to pick a way through the Southampton defence. Saints have been an unknown quantity so far this season, having won, drawn and lost their in their opening three games - the Reds should take some confidence heading into the game given that they have not lost at St Mary's in nearly 20 years.
The match on Saturday is by no means in the territory of 'every game is a cup-final' - yet the energy, desire and commitment shown against Liverpool cannot be a one-off. Ten Hag needs to get his team playing with the same level of intensity that was on display on Monday night.
If United can find a way to replicate their dominant performance this weekend against Southampton - the rest of the league should be worried about what the future looks like with Ten Hag's philosophy at the club in full-flow.
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