Reading boss Paul Ince gave his assessment on European giants Liverpool and Manchester United as two of his former sides clashed at Old Trafford.

Dynamic midfielder Ince played over 200 times for the Red Devils and another 70+ for North-West rivals Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s.

Covering the 2-1 win for the hosts for Optus Sport, alongside former teammates Paul Scholes and Steve McManaman, the Royals boss was asked for his verdict on the two sides.

Speaking after the match, the former England captain was full of praise for new United manager Erik Ten Haag.

"The last two weeks for Ten Haag has been tough," Ince started. "He’s only walked through the door for two seconds and people are questioning. We looked at the team this evening and were asking questions, was it the right team, what’s he trying to do? What he did try to do, he got his tactics absolutely spot on. He had pace when they had the ball, getting behind Liverpool’s high line, he nullified the two full-backs [Andy] Robertson and Trent [Alexander Arnold]. Looking at Liverpool over the last five years, the source of their power is from the full backs. Big thumbs up from Ten Haag."

Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho strikes either side of half-time were enough to inflict another defeat on winless Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah pulled a late consolation back but it was not enough for Jurgen Klopp's team.

Disecting the Scouse outfit, a club he called home from 1997 until 1999, the Reading boss believes a misbalance in midfield was a factor.

"There was no intensity, no rhythm. Fabinho comes in on the second half and they’re a different team. No disrespect to [James] Milner but he’s played the whole game. From minute one they didn’t look comfortable in how they set the team up. Harvey Elliott playing in a holding position, when he was at Blackburn, he was on the right wing scoring 15 goals a season, now he’s in a holding position. I just felt from a team point of view they were misbalanced."