Manchester United can take plenty away from their 1-0 win at Liverpool according to manager Louis van Gaal.

The Red Devils were not the best team on the day, as van Gaal admitted, but got the job done at Anfield with a much-needed victory against a key rival.

A win of this nature could be the catalyst for United to kick on and put some pressure on the top four but short of that, van Gaal highlighted the fact it will do plenty for the morale of everyone involved with the famous club.

"We have a lot of matches still to go," said the Dutchman whose side its fifth on the table, seven points off the lead.

"We started 2016 very good with a lot of wins and I think this game will give a big boost to the players and the fans, and everyone in the environment of Manchester United.

"We have to continue, which is not so easy. We have seen that today but we can do it because we show every week we can do it."

Van Gaal added: "It is a fantastic win for the fans, for me and the players and it will give us a boost, and maybe in that perspective you are right.

"There are matches we have played much better than today, and in that perspective I can't say it is a good day because Liverpool were the better team in the first half and normally we are dominating games.

"I have to admit we survived the first half because Liverpool were more aggressive, we could not create anything.

"They have created in the first half three chances and that was surviving, but to beat Liverpool is always important.

"When I see this game then I think we can still improve but it was still good enough to win at Liverpool away."