Man Utd 3 - Liverpool 1: Martial announces himself at Old Trafford with wonder goal

Anthony Martial scored a stunning strike on his debut to seal victory

CRISIS? What crisis? You can guess that might be Louis van Gaal's response to recent criticism as Manchester United cruised into second place in the Premier League table with victory against eternal rivals Liverpool.

 

Nobody could claim this was the most scintillating match between these famous clubs, nor that Van Gaal's team are suddenly a bewitching team on the eye.

But there was control in their football, and there was a sense of purpose and unity not so apparent in the Liverpool side.

And there was a sparkling debut goal from new signing Anthony Martial, the world's most expensive teenager, who began to repay his vast £58million fee.

 

Martial drifted with ease past a clutch of Liverpool defenders and scored with the coolest of side-foot shots to clinch victory.

It prompted a wondrous response from the crowd. Anticipation is back in the air at Old Trafford, and that was perhaps the most precious prize yesterday evening for Van Gaal.

While he could rest easy last night, the scrutiny and scepticism mounted on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after another painful defeat in which they showed little attacking threat apart from a spectacular overhead kick goal from Christian Benteke.

 

Louis van Gaal will hope the performance against Liverpool silences his critics

Liverpool's Christian Benteke scores an acrobatic overhead volley against Manchester United

That was too little, too late.

Before the game both managers were reckoned to be under pressure; and maybe it was no surprise their teams cancelled each other out in a first half of tedium. Neither goalkeeper had a shot to save, or even faced the remotest threat to conceding a goal.

For a rivalry steeped in the traditions of fast-paced, all-action English football it must have been the most muted 45 minutes of all time between the clubs. There were no fouls and no yellow cards never mind any penalty box action.

In the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney, who suffered a hamstring strain on England duty in midweek, there wasn't a single local player on the field - and nobody from closer than Yorkshire.

 

It cannot have helped.

Marouane Fellaini played in attack for United instead of England's 50-goal hero, but he chipped hopelessly high over the bar in the seventh minute after a poor clearance by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet.

That was as close to drama as it came. Most of the match was in midfield, both teams careful and considered in possession; prisoners of their own caution, or perhaps that of their controlling managers.

Before kick-off there had been a mighty roar from the United supporters to hail goalkeeper David De Gea's decision to sign a new contract following failed a transfer to Real Madrid on deadline day.

 

He barely touched the ball before the interval. It was easy money for his reported wages of £200,000 a week.

It had to change, of course it did.

Van Gaal brought on Ashley Young as a half-time substitute and he instantly won a free-kick on the edge of the Liverpool box. Juan Mata played a cute set-piece back to Danny Blind and the Dutch defender scored with a curling side-footer from 20 yards.

Now the match had some life and menace.

De Gea displayed his agility in the 56th minute with a marvellous flying save to keep out an effort from Danny Ings. It was a reminder of the high value of a world-class keeper.

 

Liverpool were close again in the 65th minute from a scrambled corner, the ball cleared off the line by Blind.

The response from Van Gaal was to bring on United's latest signing Martial for the last quarter of the game.

He hadn't touched the ball when the home side doubled their lead from the penalty spot, Ander Herrera converting himself after being fouled by Joe Gomez.

Liverpool briefly threatened a comeback when Benteke scored so memorably in the 84th minute, but it only stirred the home side to respond with an equally compelling goal.

Martial's elegance and composure was an echo of the way Thierry Henry used to terrorise defences in the Premier League for so long.

If this young French striker can do the same then maybe Manchester United can become credible challengers to their noisy neighbours down the road this season.