New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted he is still seeking improvements from his players despite winning all of their pre-season fixtures in the United States.
Slot has led Liverpool to three wins Stateside, the latest of which came on Saturday against Manchester United, beating their Premier League rivals 3-0 in South Carolina.
The Reds also emerged victorious in encounters against Real Betis and Arsenal, overcoming their behind-closed doors defeat to Preston North End last month.
Liverpool's win over United was a comfortable one, despite registering nine shots, five of which were on target, compared to their opponents' 18 and eight.
Slot's side also missed four big chances at the Williams Brice Stadium, underperforming their expected goals (xG) by 1.11.
When asked if he was pleased with his side's performances so far, Slot said: "Yes, I was – but not with all of them. We are very happy with the result, we scored some really nice goals.
"But I don't think we had enough control over the game because United were threatening us more than a few times.
"It's a 3-0 win but the score could have been different tonight as well."
Liverpool conclude their pre-season preparations next Sunday against Sevilla ahead of travelling to Ipswich Town on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign.
Slot is still awaiting the return of some of his first-team players following the Copa America and European Championship tournaments.
The likes of Alisson Becker, Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez did not travel for the USA tour, with Slot keen to continue the hard work when they arrive back on Merseyside.
"Absolutely. A lot of new players come in – I think seven, eight or nine maybe. Not new but they come back from their holiday," Slot started.
"So it's interesting to see how these players fit into the team and implement them as soon as we can.
"We need to work hard in the upcoming two weeks to be ready for Ipswich because there are a lot of positives to take from today but also, like I just said, we gave away too many chances."
Inter 0-2 Al Ittihad: Diaby double downs Nerazzurri
Moussa Diaby scored twice to help Al Ittihad secure a 2-0 victory over Inter at the U-Power Stadium on Wednesday.
Diaby struck either side of half-time to ensure the triumph over the Serie A champions, and now has three goals in his first four games since his move from Aston Villa.
The defeat is Inter's first of pre-season, with Simone Inzaghi's side concluding their preparations for the new season against Chelsea this weekend.
Having been second-best in the opening exchanges, Al Ittihad took the lead in the 25th minute when Diaby was picked out by Houssem Aouar before firing the ball beyond
Yann Sommer.
Despite Inter registering seven shots to their opponents' four in the first half, they found themselves further behind two minutes into the second half.
A loose pass by Alessandro Bastoni was punished as Ahmed Al Ghamdi saw his effort saved by Sommer, only for the rebound to fall kindly for Diaby to score his second.
Milan improved in the forward areas but were unable to test Predrag Rajkovic as Laurent Blanc's side held on for the win in Italy.
Data Debrief: Diaby does the business
After scoring six times in the Premier League for Aston Villa in 38 appearances, Diaby has already scored half of that total in his first four games for Al Ittihad.
The Frenchman was in top form against Inter, registering the most shots (three) and shots on target (two), with his expected goals (xG) total of 0.24 only bettered by Benzema (0.55).
Onana promises 'a lot more risks' at Man Utd next season
Andre Onana has promised Manchester United fans that he will "take a lot more risks" when playing out from the back this season.
Erik ten Hag brought the Cameroonian into the club for his skill with the ball at his feet, however, he was occasionally caught out as United got used to his style.
He made some high-profile mistakes in the Red Devils' dismal Champions League campaign last year, though finished the season strongly, helping the club to lift the FA Cup.
During pre-season, United have brought in a new goalkeeper coach, Jelle ten Rouwelaar, as they continue to work on playing out from the back, and Onana says he is keen to keep adapting his style.
"That's me. And I think it's what you're gonna see this season because I will take a lot of risks," Onana told reporters.
"I can tell you in advance already! Be prepared because it's gonna be this season, trust me! I will enjoy it even more when this season starts.
"Of course, because the best team in the world takes risks. Building from the back, recognise things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press with three or with four, recognise we dominate the pressing if it's a no 9 or the 11.
"It's important to recognise those kind of things and make the best decision for the team. I will take a lot of responsibility and I think my back is huge to carry it all, no? I think it's gonna be nice this season."
Onana came under fire at times during his first season at the club, and the 28-year-old acknowledged it was a steep learning curve moving to Old Trafford.
"Being a player for Manchester United, when you don't win, it's fair to receive criticism because at the end of the day, it's part of the job," he added.
"We are here for it and me coming here as the best goalkeeper in the world, it's normal they were tough on me because they expect a lot from me, but at the same time, they also give me a lot of love.
"You just have to balance that, and critics sometimes are good, because you have to look back at what you did that was not good, so for me, I take it positively."
Ibrahimovic: I was not interested in listening to the Class of '92
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was "not interested in listening to the Class of '92" during his stint at Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic spent two years with United between 2016 and 2018, helping them win the EFL Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
The Swedish striker scored 29 goals in 53 appearances for the Red Devils.
However, he paid little attention to their illustrious past during his time at the club.
"In my mindset, I want to make my own history. I was not interested in what happened before, with all respect," he told The Athletic.
"[It] brings pressure to live up to what they were used to, but I was not interested in listening to the Class of '92.
"That doesn't help me because I wanted to [make] my own history. I wanted people to say, 'You won and United won this together.'"
Ibrahimovic's career spanned an impressive 24 years, with his move to the Premier League heavyweights coming when the striker was already 35.
He added: "People said I'm too old, I should retire, blah blah blah. But this triggers me. This — I will prove you wrong."
During his time in Manchester, Ibrahimovic won his first major European trophy, and he credits manager Mourinho for the success he experienced during his stint in England.
"Jose was a machine. He brings the best out of you. He's that person — manipulative. He knows how to get in your head. He knows how to treat you, independent of your level," Ibrahimovic said.
"He reminded me of [Fabio] Capello. But a newer version. Discipline. Hardcore. Intense. Not the soft types. This is what I like."
Ibrahimovic played under ex-England manager Capello while at Juventus from 2004 to 2006. And those disciplinarian values that were on display under Mourinho, also spurred him on in Italy.
"[Capello] was destroying me. But at the same time building me. How? Easy. 'Today you were s***. Tomorrow you’re the best.' And it would go like that," he recalled.
"So, when you think you're the best, he would destroy you. Then it becomes confusion and you don’t know: 'F***, am I really the best or am I s***?' So, when you were down, he was building you up.
"I didn’t understand it. There was no balance. But it made me always give 200%. He shaped me."
The five-time Serie A champion is now working as an advisor to Milan's board. While he was not overawed with United's history, he has learned from his former club's winning culture.
"You need an identity, culture and a tradition from the club, as well as a coach. A winner creates winners. Losers don't create winners. That's a culture," Ibrahimovic explains.
"When you come into the club, as a young talent or a player with potential, the club will shape you because you grow to understand the way a club works and the surroundings. At Milan, we want to create this in a positive way."
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