Van de Beek started in a midfield three alongside Fred and Bruno Fernandes, who was the furthest midfielder forward for Manchester United.

 

Fernandes stole the show with two goals in Manchester United’s 4-1 win, but Van de Beek also showed why the club decided to invest €40m to sign him from Ajax in the last transfer window.

 

 

An attacking midfielder by trade, he played in a deeper role and made Manchester United tick with his sleek and quick passing, which was a feature of brilliant team performance in the first half.

 

The Dutchman completed the full 90 minutes and Brown was delighted with the kind of passing, awareness and the quickness of his feet that Van de Beek brought to Manchester United’s midfield.

 

 

The former defender insisted that the midfield three worked brilliantly on the night for Manchester United.

 

Brown said on MUTV: “He was very good.

 

 

“He was quality on the ball, half-turning all the time, he knew where he was and popping little passes in and out.

 

“He had a nice little combination going with one and two-touch passes.

 

“He is a sort of player when we are struggling to make things happen he is definitely the one that can help.

 

“I thought the combination between the three in midfield was brilliant.

 

“The way they moved it around.”

 

Van de Beek has started three of Manchester United’s four Champions League games but is yet to start a game in the Premier League.