Marcus Rashford scored against Liverpool to end Manchester United’s 997-minute goalless streak across all competitions.

At a boisterous Old Trafford, Manchester United put on an excellent performance to overcome Liverpool and earn manager Erik ten Hag his first Premier League victory.

Ten Hag made the risky choice to bench captain Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was rewarded with a performance that dispelled the crisis surrounding Manchester United while keeping Liverpool winless so far this year.

Ten Hag Drops Ronaldo Again Ahead Liverpool Game

After 16 minutes, Jadon Sancho rightfully gave United the lead with excellent control and calmness, and eight minutes into the second half, Marcus Rashford capitalized on an Anthony Martial pass to break free and beat Alisson.

With nine minutes left, Mo Salah scrambled in a header to set up a frantic finish, but United held on to give Ten Hag the kind of victory he needs to leave his mark at Old Trafford.

Liverpool defeated United 5-0 here and 4-0 at Anfield last season, but United displayed more vigor and aggression in the opening 10 minutes of this game than in either of those dismal outings.

Manchester United were at their lowest ebb after a 4-0 humiliation at Brentford followed an opening day home defeat by Brighton.

And while thousands protested against the ownership of the Glazers before kick-off and the chants continued throughout the game, United’s fans rallied behind a performance of fierce intensity and commitment that left Liverpool bullied for long periods.

Anthony Elanga hit the post after racing clear for Ten Hag, who used pace to exploit Liverpool’s strong defensive line. Ten Hag should have been ahead even before Sancho scored.

Every difficulty was met by United with a fervent response. With a forceful challenge on Mohamed Salah right away, Lisandro Martinez set the tone for the game.

Rashford hasn’t been in great shape lately, but after the calm way in which he scored the goal that ultimately won it, his confidence will undoubtedly surge.

And this was a historic night for Ten Hag, who was aware that if United had lost, criticism of his decision to bench Maguire and Ronaldo would have ensued.

Instead, he relished the kind of night that he will hope would usher in his reign at Old Trafford.

Instead, he had the kind of night that he will be hoping kickstarts his Old Trafford reign.