MAN UTD 2, LIVERPOOL 1
Marcus Rashford’s double sent Manchester United five points clear of Liverpool in second place in the Premier League.
The Reds’ striker, starting his first league game since Boxing Day, certainly enhanced his claims for a regular starting spot.
Rashford’s 11th and 12th goals of the season helped United triumph in the 200th competitive meeting between these arch rivals.
And it proved an absorbing contest and far removed to the four previous meetings that all ended in deadlock.
United played some terrific football in the opening period in which they established a 2-0 lead and were in total control.
Manager Jose Mourinho reverted to type in the second half, parking the bus as Liverpool dominated.
An Eric Bailly own goal handed Liverpool a lifeline and set up a pulsating last quarter as United hung on to a slender lead.
But you only had to look at the stats to see how Liverpool were in command – they had 68-per-cent possession, 13 goal attempts to United’s five and the corner count was also 13-1 in their favour.
Mourinho praised Rashford, who was watched by England manager Gareth Southgate, explaining he had shown in training that he merited a starting spot.
He said: “He scored two goals against top-class opposition.
“Marcus scored with his first chance, and in the last few months that has not been happening with him, and that has affected his self confidence.
“We trusted him today and thought the game could adapt to his qualities.”
Mourinho also praised 20-year-old midfielder Scott McTominay and was unhappy of criticism of him from fans.
“I was disappointed as Scott made all the right decisions, but they wanted him to make the wrong ones,” he explained.
Mourinho described it as “the perfect result and three very important points” but didn’t say it was the perfect performance.
He said the first half would have been perfect had Juan Mata’s spectacular overhead kick made it 3-0 at the break.
“The second half was a different match, but we dealt with it,” he continued.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp thought nobody could have argued if the game had been drawn.
He thought his side ought to have been awarded a penalty for Marouane Fellaini’s challenge on Sadio Mane.
“The problem was not creating chances – we had to enough to win the game – but the goals we conceded,” said Klopp.
The Reds were without Paul Pogba who was injured in training on Friday as he was replaced by Mata.
The two other changes from Monday’s dramatic win at Crystal Palace saw Eric Bailly and Rashford replace Victor Lindelof and Jesse Lingard in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
Liverpool’s strength in depth was underlined as their bench included Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
After an uneventful opening, United took the lead in the 14th minute as Rashford justified his recall with a fabulous goal.
He raced on to Romelu Lukaku’s flick on from David de Gea’s long kick and cut inside Trent Alexander-Arnold before placing a terrific shot low to the left of keeper Loris Karius.
Rashford almost burst through again minutes later, but Alexander-Arnold saved the day with a timely interception.
Liverpool had a great chance to draw level mid-half when Virgil van Dijk met James Milner’s corner. The ball came off his shoulder when he attempted a header and the ball flew agonisingly wide.
It was a costly miss as United made it 2-0 moments later when Rashford struck again.
Another De Gea long clearance was met by Lukaku before Mata released Rashford on the left of the area and his finish was reminiscent of his opening goal.
It was his first double in the Premier League since his debut against Arsenal in February 2016.
United almost added a third goal in the 38th minute when Antonio Valencia and Rashford helped set up Mata whose spectacular overhead kick flew narrowly wide. Had it found the net, it would have been a goal-of-the-season contender.
It looked as though United parked the bus as they defended in numbers from the restart, a tactic that gave Liverpool the impetus to attack which they did.
Mourinho was on the sidelines urging players to get forward as Mata and Rashford were so deep they were effectively additional full backs.
Liverpool halved the deficit midway through the half as Sadio Mane cross from the left and Bailly diverted the ball past De Gea at the near post. Suddenly it was game on.
There was a mixture of cheers and jeers when Felliani replaced Rashford with 20 minutes left, United’s first change.
Liverpool had claims for a penalty rejected with nine minutes left when Sane went down in the box after a challenge from Fellaini.
United made a second change after 88 minutes as Lingard made a cameo in place of Mata.
Liverpool laid siege to the United goal in the six minutes of added time as Wijnaldum had a shot superbly blocked by Chris Smalling while at the death Mohamed Salah blazed over.