KEY POINTS

  • Lisandro Martinez moved from Ajax to Man Utd this summer
  • Man Utd paid around $60 million for Martinez
  • Man Utd are set to take on Liverpool at home on Monday

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has backed new summer signing Lisandro Martinez ahead of their big game against Liverpool FC.

Martinez moved from Ajax to Manchester United this summer for a $60 million transfer fee. He started in Red Devils' opening two games recently, which ended in defeats to Brighton and Brentford respectively.

Manchester United were 4-0 down when they went into the half-time break against Brentford over the weekend. The 24-year-old Martinez was among the three players Ten Hag substituted at the interval at Gtech Community Stadium.

The former Ajax defender was replaced by Raphael Varane, with Tyrell Malacia and Scott McTominay brought in for Luke Shaw and Fred.

In the pre-match conference, ahead of Manchester United's home game against Liverpool, Ten Hag was asked about Martinez's adaptation to the demanding Englihs soccer.

''I don't think it was a tough 45 minutes anymore than any other player on the pitch. I saw from his stats he won his aerial duels and his individual challenges. He was always good with his passing and he also made some mistakes as did the whole team. I could have swapped 11 players,'' replied Ten Hag, according to Man Utd's media.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on August 07, 2022 in Manchester, England. Getty Images/Michael Regan

Ten Hag, who has not had the best of starts in charge of the Red Devils, having lost both his opening league games, believes his players have the quality to beat Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on Monday.

''They are a good team if they do what they have to do. 'In football, it is not always working like you plan because you have to face an opponent, that is clear. But if you work hard and stick to the plan, the result will come,'' added Ten Hag in the same conference.

Liverpool are also yet to register a win in the ongoing Premier League season. They are coming on the back of two drawn results: 2-2 vs Fulham, and 1-1 vs Crystal Palace.

It has been reported that Manchester United are still trying to sign Martinez's former Ajax teammate Antony, who is now pushing for a move to Premier League.