Monday at Old Trafford, surprising and perhaps inspiring the crowd despite their terrible start to the current Premier League campaign.
The team led by Erik ten Hag scored its first goal of the year, earned its first point, and significantly reduced the burden on the interim manager.
Let's examine the player rankings for Liverpool vs. Manchester United.
7 — David de Gea De Gea was far superior to his disastrous performance against Brentford thanks to Erik ten Hag's approval of the long ball on goal kicks. De Gea deserves praise for constantly responding resolutely to his detractors.
Diogo Dalot receives a rating of seven because he continues to exceed expectations by not only staying at Manchester United but also starting and shutting down Luis Diaz in the club's biggest game of the year.
7.5 for Raphael Varane After witnessing the French-Argentine link almost retain a clean sheet and contain Liverpool in the manner they did, Ten Hag will find it difficult to revert to Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.
7 — Lisandro Martinez Bruno Fernandes almost scored an embarrassing own goal, but the Argentine's goal-line block and clearance of it should buy him some time and grace as he adjusts to Man United and the Premier League.
Tyrell Malacia: 7 – Mohamed Salah was contained and kept quiet for 90 minutes, which is no small feat, especially for a player who is new to the Premier League and is more well-known for his offensive ferocity.
Christian Eriksen: 6.5 – Ten Hag made an odd, but possibly necessary, decision to place Eriksen with Scott McTominay as Fred and the Scot struggled mightily to carry out the new manager's instructions on the ball. Eriksen might excel in the deeper role once Casemiro joins the team, but he'll need a lot of defensive cover.
Scott McTominay: 6 — McTominay is currently only in the starting lineup due to his presence at the club and the need for a player in the position.
8 — Jadon Sancho In the first half, there were glimmers of "the Dortmund Sancho," notably his goal, and it is obvious that he will scare Premier League defenders whenever he has them one-on-one. The 22-year-old should benefit greatly from his Old Trafford goal against Liverpool.
6 — Bruno Fernandes No player on the Man United squad is more in need of a natural striker to lead the line than Fernandes (more on that in a bit). When he is searching through the middle and in the channels, he is almost impossible to play.
Anthony Elanga: 5 – It's unclear what Elanga gives this United team at the moment after being given the hook at halftime, possibly owing to injury or a desire to force Marcus Rashford out wide.
Marcus Rashford: 8 – Playing centre forward, he didn't provide much in the first half other than runs in behind the defence, which were seldom, if ever, discovered. However, with more room on the left (and the chance to connect with Anthony Martial and Malacia), he came alive in the second half. He should continue to play a key role in Manchester United's renovation.
(Halftime substitution) Anthony Martial: 7.5 — United are in desperate need of a true centre-forward, so Martial, who spent the second half of last season on loan and who, once more, just so happens to be at the club right now, looked like a game-changer when he was dropped into the middle of the field. It was a very straightforward play, but not one that, say, Ronaldo would make in the same circumstance, that allowed Rashford to score.
5.5 Alisson — Rashford scored with skill, but it was also the kind of save that Alisson usually overturns to save Liverpool in a tight spot.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6 — The Liverpool offence struggles when the fullbacks aren't bursting forward and burrowing into midfield to generate big overloads.
Joe Gomez: 5.5 — Gomez and everyone who plays with him will suffer if Virgil van Dijk is unable to execute every play possible.
5.8 Virgil van Dijk Van Dijk consistently proved why he was the best defender in the world throughout Liverpool's recent run as PL title candidates, Champions League contenders (and winners), and all the rest. He gave Liverpool the freedom to press and counterattack in the manner they have. The huge Dutchman doesn't seem to be that player any longer, which is currently hobbling the Reds.
Andrew Robertson: 6 — It's difficult going for the rest of the Liverpool attack when the full backs aren't bursting forward and tucking into midfield to generate enormous overloads.
Jordan Henderson: 6 — Without Fabinho in the middle of the field, it is obvious that opposition attacks through the middle of the field should target Henderson. On Monday, Man United had a lot of fun there.
5.5 James Milner Everyone is aware that he is only starting because of the widespread injuries throughout Liverpool's squad, but justifying his lack of performance in what felt like a game that needed to be won won't make the problem go away.
Harvey Elliott: 5.5 — The tale is comparable to Milner's. Elliott is a player for the future who can also contribute right away, but the pace and vigour of the game on Monday prevented him from thriving.
7 Mohamed Salah On Monday, the Egyptian winger shown unusually little movement as Malacia, Martinez, with a little more assistance from McTominay, provided no time or space. He squirmed free for a late consolation goal, but it was obvious that the first defensive goal was to prevent Salah from taking the game over.
Roberto Firmino: 6 — Similar to how Van Dijk is no longer that player, Firmino must have a huge impact on the attack if Salah is to be successfully taken out of the game. Of course, if Darwin Nuez isn't suspended, he doesn't get the start.
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