Old Trafford experienced catharsis last night as Manchester United gutted Liverpool in a frenetic 2-1 win. Before the game, the mood around the ground was surly, lifted momentarily when new-signing Casemiro wafted through the assembled protesters and into the ground. But over 90 minutes, United displayed steel, fight and gumption for the big game. Tearing into Liverpool from the outset, the home side nearly grabbed the lead when Bruno Fernandes teed Anthony Elanga for a chance at goal. The winger struck the post when scoring looked easier.

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Jaden Sancho did put United ahead with deceptive skill. After an excellent build-up, Malacia nudged a pass to the wide-forward. He sat Milner on his rear with a tidy roll-over before slotting into the gaping goal. Just the lift-off Erik Ten Hag’s wards needed! Liverpool upped their tempo, threatening a breakthrough. United almost gifted them an equalizer, but Fernandes’ wild swipe in his box, ricocheted off Lisandro Martinez’s armpit. It went into halftime 1-0 to the Red Devils’; delirious chatter spread across the terraces. Marcus Rashford added a second early in the second half. But the visitors refused to cower.

Jurgen Klopp replaced the ineffective Henderson for Fabinho, seeking to impose control in midfield. Barked on by the German, Liverpool rode forwards. De Gea denied Roberto Firminho from close-range, followed by a snap save, preventing an own goal off Martinez. Mo Salah halved the deficit, however, spreading panic across the stands. But United held firm.

Mctominay was tigerish in midfield, Raphael Varane, in defence, was imperious, Martinez played with ferocity, while Tyrell Malacia was tenacious against Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was a far cry from their meek outings against Brighton and Brentford. The performance was full of passion, anger even! The attitude was markedly different from the dark days of last week when Brentford bullied them into submission. Understandably delighted by the showing, Ten Hag came out swinging in the post-match interview. Pumped up to the bone, he even dropped the F-bomb, much to Gary Neville’s delight:

“You can see what they can achieve. Because we can f***ing play good football.”

The Dutchman swore like his team, all snarl and snark. Compare this to Klopp’s comical blunder during a pre-match interview against Newcastle United last season. The German misunderstood brain fog for brain f***, much to the laughter of those around. As those gathered schooled him in British slang- spelling out the word (F-O-G) or pointing to a synonym (mist/misty)- Klopp joked that the two “sounds exactly the same.”

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While Liverpool was fog-less last season, they have begun the new season all misty-minded. Two draws in two- against Fulham and Crystal Palace– followed by defeat to United, leave them 16th. Last night, Klopp’s selection was at the intersection of brain fog and brain f***. A tepid midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Harvey Elliot left them light on control. Fabinho’s entry in the second half was long overdue. Virgil Van Dijk channelled his manager’s faux pas energy, standing stock in the lead-up to United’s first goal. Allowing Sancho to shoot without attempting to close down the angle was pure fog-headed brilliance. If the mist doesn’t clear, the title challengers will have to endure a season of discontent, much like Klopp’s last as Borussia Dortmund.