Erik ten Hag sends blunt warning to Marcus Rashford before Liverpool clash

Manchester United travel to Liverpool as the underdogs and are not fancied to win at Anfield this afternoon

'A kick in the a**' - Erik ten Hag sends blunt warning to Marcus Rashford before Liverpool clash

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Erik ten Hag is hopeful a kick up the a** could help Marcus Rashford rediscover his form against Liverpool this afternoon.

Rashford, who scored 30 goals in all competitions last season, has endured a slow start to the season and has appeared a shadow of the player he was only a matter of months ago.

The 26-year-old has been on the scoresheet just twice in 20 appearances this term and has been left out of the starting-eleven for both of United's previous two Premier League fixtures.

Ten Hag will not want to see the England international go missing on Sunday at Anfield as he aims to avoid another damaging defeat and has a clear idea of how to bring the best out of Rashford.

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Asked if the forward requires an arm around his shoulder in moments like these, the United boss responded: “So, I think any player almost, sometimes it's an arm around the shoulder, sometimes a kick in the ass. So, that makes a difference in the management. So, which approach are you taking? The kick in the ass or arm around the shoulder?"

Ten Hag will have bad memories of last season's trip to Anfield, which saw his side ship seven goals on a deeply humiliating day for the Red Devils.

United's form of late has done little to suggest an away win could be possible on this occasion, though the Dutchman has stressed he is confident of his team's chances.

“I always have [belief], when I go to any game, I have strong belief I'm going to win and I will prepare the team in that way, that we're going to win," said Ten Hag. "And why? Yeah, because it's based on our rules and principles in the game, and it's based on our game plan and then a strong belief in the quality of my players.”

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