Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has claimed that Daley Blind's opening goal was the decisive factor in his side's 3-1 victory over Liverpool this evening.

The Red Devils moved up to second in the table with victory over their fiercest rivals, as Blind's 49th-minute strike was added to by an Ander Herrera penalty and debut goal for Anthony Martial either side of Christian Benteke's bicycle kick.

Blind's strike came as a result of a well-worked free kick, and Van Gaal believes that his side's hard work on the training ground is now beginning to pay off.

"We played better in the first half. We had far more control, but we didn't create much, that is why I changed Memphis - to improve that last pass," the Dutch boss told Sky Sports News.

"I am very happy with the first goal because that is what we practised in many training sessions and now it is coming out. The first goal decided the match because they had to come at us, giving us more space and so we could score more.

"The penalty was fantastic and then the goal of Anthony Martial, not a bad goal I think. He did alright. He scored a marvellous goal and physically he can play in the Premier League."

United have now won their last three meetings with Liverpool in the Premier League.