Manchester United win vs Liverpool leads to ‘crying out’ Rio Ferdinand claim

Rio Ferdinand is feeling cautiously optimistic about Manchester United after their first pre-season clash.

United kicked off their summer schedule with a bang in Thailand on Tuesday night, defeating Liverpool 4-0.

Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri were all on the scoresheet as the Red Devils made easy work of their Premier League rivals.

At this point, we can’t read too much into the performance, particularly given Liverpool brought on many of their bigger players for the second half, by when much of the damage was done.

But Erik ten Hag will be looking to introduce his style quickly, and there were certainly flashes of potential as pre-season preparations continue.

That’s something United legend Ferdinand has recognised, tweeting: “Seen a few things we [have] been crying out for the last few years,” wrote Ferdinand on Twitter. “But we’ve seen it sparingly before.

“All in all...good day at the office! I’m feeling the Ten Hag look on the touch line.”

Jadon Sancho put in a particularly impressive performance in Thailand, which will be encouraging for United fans ahead of a big season for the winger.

But it was not just Sancho who impressed, with Ten Hag saying afterwards on MUTV: “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.”

United are next in action on Friday when they take on Melbourne Victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground ahead of a clash with Crystal Palace on Tuesday.