Erik ten Hag told his
Manchester United squad they needed to win more duels and switch play quicker after a poor first-half performance against
Liverpool at Old Trafford . United hadn't been in the game in the first 45 minutes and trailed 1-0 at the break, although they could have been further behind, having failed to muster a shot while Liverpool had 15. But they were much improved after the break, with Bruno Fernandes capitalising on a Jarell Quansah mistake to score from 45 yards and Kobbie Mainoo giving them the lead before Mohamed Salah's penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw. ALSO READ: United vs Liverpool as it happened ALSO READ: United player ratings vs Liverpool Ten Hag only changed some minor details with his side at the break, reinforcing the message and telling them to be more combative in their approach. "I think most important was that when we had decisive moments first half we lost the duels and our decision-making in the half spaces, we weren’t quick enough," he said. "We encouraged the team at half-time to win those duels, the moment you win those and then make a change to the far side half space and you create an overload and you will create. We didn’t take advantage in the first half and the second half we did. We needed a moment, to punish a mistake and that got us back in the game." Mainoo's goal was an outstanding finish and Ten Hag was particularly pleased that it was a move from the training ground, aimed at moving the play across and exploiting those spaces in the Liverpool set-up. "It was a very good team goal, a goal from out of the game plan, so very proud the team could transfer this the way we did, to get the ball to the far side half space and get the switch and the finish was brilliant," he said.