22.08.2022, Großbritannien, Manchester: Fußball: Premier League, England, Manchester United - FC Liverpool, 3. Spieltag im Old Trafford Stadion: Liverpools Trainer Jürgen Klopp (l) und Manchester Uniteds Trainer Erik ten Hag reagieren an der Seitenlinie. Foto: David Davies/PA Wire/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Coach Jürgen Klopp is preparing for restless days after Liverpool FC’s season got off to a bad start. “It’s not the easiest situation, but it’s like life: if it rains, you have to get out,” said the 55-year-old after the deserved 1-2 (0-1) defeat in the English Premier League on Monday evening at Manchester United the TV channel Sky.

“That wasn’t a disaster game from us,” said Klopp, in the meantime “a bunch of really good stuff has been brought onto the pitch”. “What hurts the most is the result – and we have to deal with that now.” With just two points from three league games, Liverpool have slipped to 16th place in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

For the former Dortmund Bundesliga professional Jadon Sancho, who paved the way for Manchester’s first win of the season with his 1-0 lead (16th minute), the greater motivation was decisive. “We knew it was an important game, that we had to turn things around today,” said the England international. “Last week hurt a lot, we knew we had to hit back.”

For Manchester’s second goalscorer, Marcus Rashford (53′), the ‘energy’ on the pitch was the biggest success factor. “We started the game with more speed,” he said. For this, coach Erik ten Hag had banned superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting XI to the bench, as well as the other two top performers Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. The risk paid off.

“I don’t see it that way with the risk,” said Dutchman ten Hag. He has a large squad and has to “make decisions” that could be “different again next week”.

However, Ronaldo looked anything but satisfied. With a pinched expression, the superstar left the lawn at Old Trafford. Because the 37-year-old, who would like to leave Man United, spent almost the entire game on the bench – almost lese-majeste. During the game, the five-time world footballer often stared into space while his teammates talked – Ronaldo seemed isolated. He was only substituted on in the 86th minute.

In Manchester’s last Premier League game, the star striker was still in the starting XI and lost 4-0 at Brentford. In the first league duel in the 1:2 against Brighton

Ten Hag had a simple explanation for Ronaldo’s elimination: the tactics against Liverpool. “You have to push against her. You have to do that in a block,” said the 52-year-old Dutchman. Ronaldo is not considered a pressing machine and only works a little backwards. “The mentality and the team spirit tonight were excellent,” added ten Hag.