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MANCHESTER. — Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal hopes that his team’s 3-1 home victory over arch-rivals Liverpool will signal the end of their early-season difficulties.

United endured a testing start to the campaign, struggling for goals and facing criticism over their transfer dealings, and they went into the international break on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City.

But Saturday’s win over Liverpool blew off the cobwebs, with David de Gea back in goal following the collapse of his proposed move to Real Madrid and Anthony Martial netting a clinically taken debut goal following his £36 million transfer from Monaco.

“I think in a difficult period like we had in the transfer period, with a lot of problems with players who are going and coming, it is always worse with Manchester United than the other clubs,” said Van Gaal, whose side climbed to second place in the table, five points below Manchester City. — AFP.