MAN UNITED 3, LIVERPOOL 2
Majestic Manchester United marched into the last 16 of the Emirates FA Cup and piled on the misery for badly out-of-form Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side edged a pulsating fourth-round tie to set up a home tie against West Ham.
It was just a pity there was no crowd to witness a wonderful spectacle as United have lost only once in their last 13 games.
Goals from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and substitute Bruno Fernandes earned a terrific victory in a game far removed to the awful goalless draw in the league at Anfield one week earlier.
It was the 10th time United had knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup and another tale of woe for Premier League champions who, despite two goals from Mohamed Salah, have now won only once in their last six games in all competitions.
Embed from Getty ImagesA delighted Solskjaer said: “Brilliant. It was fantastic to win against last year’s champions.
“We have had good results against them in the last few years, but we played on our terms.
“We are getting stronger and stronger, and we came back from 1-0 down. We are getting physically stronger.
“You know when you go a goal down the reaction of everyone was really good.
“We played some really good stuff, good goals. We have to defend well against them, and we managed to react well and of course towards the end there were some moments, but we kept them away.
“Great goal, good free kick. When you leave him out like I did today, he stayed about 45 minutes after training yesterday shooting free kicks so I was pretty confident he could score one if he got the chance.
“He’s never happy with me when I tell him to go inside after training when he’s playing the next day so he got some practice yesterday.
“Marcus has played up front, down the right and left and we felt if we could switch the ball early today we could attack them because Liverpool defend on the front foot so we have to be quick on the ball, we did that well.”
On Rashford limping down the tunnel, Solskjaer added: “His knee was bothering him so scan tomorrow and see where we are.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took encouragement from defeat, saying: “We have to take positives and it was steps in the right direction.
“It is not what we wanted. If we wanted to win here, we would have to play absolute tops.”
United made five changes from the side that beat Fulham earlier this week. Fernandes dropped to the bench with Donny van de Beek coming in while Scott McTominay started in midfield, in place of Fred.
Rashford returned, replacing Anthony Martial, while Victor Lindelof took Eric Bailly’s place in defence. Dean Henderson was the goalkeeper.
There was no place on the bench for new signing Amad Diallo nor for Jesse Lingard who has been linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford.
Five changes also for Liverpool, who brought Salah and Roberto Firmino back into the starting line-up after they sat out the 1-0 home loss to Burnley. Divock Origi and Sadio Mane dropped out.
In midfield, Curtis Jones and James Milner started in place of Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. In defence, Joel Matip was replaced by Rhys Williams.
Greenwood had two goal attempts for United in a lukewarm opening, the first was kept out by the legs of goalkeeper Alisson Becker while the second was disappointingly wide.
It was Liverpool who made the breakthrough as Salah raced clear on to Roberto Firmino’s through ball before lifting the ball over the advancing Henderson.
United were level eight minutes later with referee Craig Pawson providing an assist as he allowed play on after Paul Pogba was fouled.
They broke with Rashford’s long diagonal ball floating over the head of James Milner to release Greenwood who raced into the box to fire a low drive into the far corner, his fourth goal of the season and first in 11 games.
United had a chance to take the lead when Rashford released van de Beek but Alisson managed to block his effort while Pogba and McTominay both headed over from corners.
Pogba’s free kick was not far off target, McTominay’s drive was kicked to safety by Thiago Alcantara and Pogba’s drive flew narrowly wide as the momentum well and truly swung their way.
And United began where they left off before the break and took a 48th minute lead.
Greenwood provided the assist with a delightful through ball to release Rashford who raced clear to slot a shot low past Alisson for his 15th goal of the season and fourth in five appearances against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Liverpool weren’t finished and, moments after Milner blazed over from six yards, they equalised in the 58th minute.
Not for the first time this season, United were caught playing out from the back.
Alacantara, Firmino and Milner were all involved in the build up before Salah slotted home his second and 19th goal of the season in all competitions to draw level with Harry Kane who had been the outright leading marksman in the top-flight.
And the visitors nearly went ahead in the blink of an eye when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s drive was beaten out by Henderson.
Liverpool sent on Mane for Georginio Wijnaldum while United made a double change with Fred and Fernandes replacing Greenwood and van de Beek.
Salah had the chance to complete a hat-trick but his shot was easily blocked by Henderson.
United regained the lead in the 78th minute after Edinson Cavani was fouled by Fabinho on the edge of the box and Fernandes smashed the free kick into the bottom corner for his 16th goal of the season.
It was also his 28th goal since joining the Reds at the end of last January, more than any other player has netted in the Premier League.
Solskjaer’s third change saw Martial replaced Rashford who went straight down the tunnel suggesting a knock.
Cavani came close to sealing victory in the 89th minute when he headed against the upright from Fernandes’ cross, but it didn’t matter as they held on as bragging rights remain at the Mancunian end of the East Lancs Road.