EPL

Ten Hag demands Man Utd players repeat intensity from Liverpool win

By Sports Desk August 26, 2022

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants his players to maintain "a high standard" on the back of their morale-boosting victory over Liverpool.

Ten Hag earned his first three points as United boss on Monday with a brilliant 2-1 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, following a poor start to the season that saw them lose their opening two matches.

The Dutchman's team will now make the trip to England's south coast as they look to follow up Monday's victory with another three points on the road at Southampton.

To achieve that, though, United will have to end a run of seven consecutive away league defeats stretching back to last season, against a team who were victorious away at Leicester City last weekend.

And Ten Hag has commanded that his players keep the same energy that saw them beat last season's Premier League runners-up.

"We need to have a high standard. It's a demand to the group," Ten Hag told reporters.

"Now they see what the reward is, so we have to match the runs in and out of possession. We need runs and movement if you want to dictate a game.

"The spirit was already good but now it is even better [following Monday's win]. But it's only one game so we have to build further, we have to develop and I think everyone is aware of that."

New signing Casemiro could make his debut for the Red Devils on Saturday after arriving from Real Madrid, but Ten Hag revealed that forward Anthony Martial is unavailable.

"You will see tomorrow [in terms of changes]. Casemiro is fit and he did all the training sessions," Ten Hag added.

"Anthony Martial is not fit. He came out with a problem with his Achilles. I cannot tell a prognosis, how long it takes. I hope he will be available for the next game."

United have been closely linked with Ajax forward Antony in recent days, and Ten Hag did not rule out more arrivals before the transfer window ends.

The former Ajax coach said: "We need players but we need the right players. The whole transfer window, we are happy with what we did until now, but the bar has to be high."

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