Former centre-back Rio Ferdinand has praised the effort and desire Manchester United's players showed in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, insisting the players now have an understanding of what Ruben Amorim expects.

United produced their best performance of the Amorim era thus far against the Premier League table-toppers with a spirited showing that was well worth a share of the spoils.

Amad earned United a point with 80 minutes on the clock, converting Alejandro Garnacho's low centre, after goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah had wiped out Lisandro Martinez's emphatic opener.

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Having made the trip to Anfield on a four-game losing run in all competitions, almost all of the pre-match conversation was about the margin of victory of Liverpool would win by. United, however, produced the reaction Amorim was looking for.

And in the opinion of Ferdinand, it was the effort, application, desire and commitment that United's players produced that enabled them to earn a very respectable point.

Ferdinand, speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, said: "I thought yesterday was the first game that I've seen where it all came together as one in terms of effort, application, desire, commitment, which was a requirement.

"If you're going to get a result at Anfield then you need all of those, but also composure with the ball in possession, playing out and playing through the lines and also creating chances.

"Those three different elements haven't fitted in together seamlessly in any one game yet really. This was the game where it all came together.

"I was just happy with the commitment because to get a result there you need to be committed and the manager's words afterwards... it wasn't about tactics, it was about effort more or less. For any player now hearing that, you know where you stand."