Manchester United 2, Liverpool 4
Manchester United lost to Liverpool at Old Trafford for the first time in seven years as Jurgen Klopp finally won a game at United in a pulsating contest.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe game wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggested as Liverpool dominated after a bright start for United who were playing their fourth fixture in a week after the distraction of more demonstrations outside the ground before the kick off.
Bruno Fernandes scored the opening goal and Eric Bailly benefited from a VAR review of a Liverpool penalty which saw Anthony Taylor reverse his initial decision.
But Liverpool didn’t panic and deserved their equaliser after 34 minutes when Diogo Jota poached a goal bound shot by Nat Phillips.
And they went ahead on the stroke of half time through a Roberto Firmino header as United’s weakness at set pieces were exposed again.
United went further behind after the restart when a sloppy clearance allowed Firmino to get his second, and Liverpool stayed on top with Jota hitting the woodwork.
Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit with 22 minutes to go with his 50th goal at Old Trafford – his 5th in his last five at home against Liverpool – while substitute Mason Greenwood had a shot cleared off the line.
But with United pushing for the equaliser Mo Salah finished off the Reds in the last minute to hand Jurgen Klopp a first Premier League win at Old Trafford at the seventh attempt – the first win there for Liverpool since March 2014 and a first away win against United for the German.
Victory moved Liverpool up to 5th – four points behind Chelsea who play Leicester City next Tuesday night making the fight for a top four spot a mouth-watering proposition.
But a sixth defeat at Old Trafford in the season for United leaves them still waiting for confirmation of a second place finish having lost more times there this term than in the last two seasons combined.
And with 27 goals conceded, only Newcastle United (29), and West Brom (34) have let in more goals at home in the Premier League this season than United.
Liverpool manager Klopp was understandably delighted with the performance on the night at Old Trafford – a crunch result in their quest to get an unlikely spot in next season’s Champions League after a wretched title defence.
He said: “It was a great fight, a good game, and end to end. It’s my first win at Old Trafford – and with good timing, we needed it and we deserved it.
“We scored good goals and reacted well to their goal.
“They overloaded the wings and we didn’t adapt well for 15 minutes but then we took control and could play the way we wanted to play.
“It was ok in the first half and even better in the second.”
Klopp praised all of his players, especially Trent Alexander-Arnold who must have impressed the watching Gareth Southgate, but glossed over suggestions of a rift with Sadio Mane who started on the bench and appeared to snub his manager at the end.
“ I made a late change in training.” admitted Klopp on Mane’s emotional reaction at the final whistle.
“It was intense for everyone. We needed the fourth goal [to win].
“And we have to recover quickly and go again.”
United manager Solskjaer was understandably unhappy and it pained him to admit that Liverpool were the better team.
He said: “They deserved the win.
“We conceded goals in key moments of the game. We didn’t build on our momentum or break up their momentum.
“We gave them two or three goals and key moments went against us.
“Their shape and pressing was very aggressive and we created our own downfall.
“The second goal was a bad moment to concede a goal and we gave them their third.”
He dismissed any suggestions that the Reds missed injured captain Harry Maguire or were distracted by the protests.
Solskjaer said: “Harry’s been important for us so of course we will miss him but we have the players to replace him.
“We have to build our own confidence again. We have two games in the league and then the Europa League final.
“We had to do a different preparation and with three league games in five days games it’s been hard.
“The attitude was right and the focus was right, but key moments went against us. We let them off the hook to play out.
Solskjaer went on to appeal for support as the fans were about to be allowed into Old Trafford for the first time in over a year.
He said: “We have Fulham on Tuesday and we need to rebuild momentum and confidence.
“Hopefully there will be a good atmosphere here on Tuesday when we let the fans in [against Fulham].”
Manchester United miss Harry Maguire as Liverpool punish their mistakes to win at Old Trafford for the first time since March 2014
United were able to name a very strong side to face Liverpool whose pre-match preparations were disrupted by another demonstration.
But the Reds were crucially missing captain Harry Maguire who injured ankle ligaments against Leicester City on Tuesday and attended the game wearing a protective boot.
Eric Bailly stayed in the side as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made ten changes from the second string side that lost to Leicester City two days ago.
Liverpool lined up with inexperienced centre backs Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips with Diogo Jota getting the nod over Sadio Mane as Liverpool looked to press their top four claims with a strong finish to the season.
Even with the colourful clashes outside Old Trafford, a helicopter continued to hover over the stadium as the game kicked off, it was clear that there were still incentives to win for both sides in this game.
Bailly was in trouble immediately after he accidentally handled the ball in the area under pressure from Roberto Firmino but there was no penalty as both sides went for it.
Allison gave the ball away with a sloppy pass out from the back but Edinson Cavani shot wide of the goal as the Brazilian tried to get back.
And United were ahead after just 10 minutes when Aaron Wan-Bissaka cutback was sent towards the back post by Bruno Fernandes only for the luckless Phillips to stab the curling ball past Allison to earn Fernandes his 28th goal of the season.
Liverpool had only a blocked shots by Mo Salah and Jota to show for their shaky start at Old Trafford but they were starting to get into the game.
After 26 minutes Phillips won a penalty after he was sent flying by Bailly’s follow through as the Ivorian cleared the ball.
Anthony Taylor was directed to look at the pitch side monitor and reversed his decision to the bemusement of Klopp.
Pogba headed the ball wide while Jota had a shot tipped over by Dean Henderson before Salah had a shot blocked as Liverpool markedly improved.
United conceded from the resulting corner though when the Reds failed to clear Phllips’ shot and Jota diverted the ball past Henderson after 34 minutes.
Pogba drove the ball wide as United steadied the ship towards the end of the first half.
Roberto Firmino scores twice at Old Trafford to put Liverpool firmly in control at Manchester United
But Roberto Firmino delivered a hammer blow in added time when he headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick past Henderson after leaving Pogba in his wake.
And the visitors scored again 3 minutes after the restart as they failed to clear the ball, Fred gave the ball away and Alexander-Arnold’s cross was parried out by Henderson but only as far as Firmino who reacted first and slotted inside the far post to become the first Liverpool player to score twice at Old Trafford since Steven Gerrard in March 2014.
It was the 26th league goal conceded by United at Old Trafford this term – the most in a season since 1971/72.
Bailly was booked for a rash tackle on Jota as United looked ragged, and only the woodwork prevented Liverpool from hitting. Fourth as Jota sliced through the United defence and rapped the post with a fierce shot after another break when Fred gave the ball away.
Alexander-Arnold almost beat Henderson again after Wan-Bissaka gave the ball away – Henderson saved but Jota was too far away to get to the rebound after the hour mark.
Fred had a poor a game as anyone else and was hauled off after 63 minutes, replaced by Mason Greenwood as United were forced to go for it.
With 22 minutes to go Marcus Rashford cut the Liverpool advantage after Cavani threaded him through with the striker sending the ball past Allison for hist 21st goal of the season to set up a tight finale.
Greenwood was twice denied an equaliser with Phillips clearing off his line while Rashford hit the side netting after cutting in from the left after Sadio Mane’s poor first touch lost him a shooting chance.
Fernandes lifted a free kick over the bar as United started knocking on the Liverpool door.
Mane had a penalty shout turned down after Scott McTominay looked to have fouled him, minutes after getting a yellow card for a foul on Fabinho.
Nemanja Matic was brought on as United’s last roll of the dice but Liverpool simply finished off the Reds who were massed in the Liverpool half in the last minute after Curtis Jones released Salah for an uncontested run on goal that ended with the inevitable goal from the Egyptian who slotted into the far post beyond Henderson.
Rashford dragged a shot wide as United ran out steam as Liverpool set the scene for a potential top four showdown at the business end of the season.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Liverpool 4
Man Utd 1, Liverpool 0: 10. Bruno Fernandes sent a curling shot towards the back post when released by Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cutback and it was deflected past Allison by the luckless Nat Phllips.
Man Utd 1, Liverpool 1: 34. Diogo Jota diverted Nat Philips’ shot past Dean Henderson as United failed to defend a corner.
Man Utd 1, Liverpool 2: 45+3. Roberto Firmino headed the visitors into the lead after leaving Paul Pogba in his wake to get on the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick at the back post.
Man Utd 1, Liverpool 3: 47. Roberto Firmino reacted first after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot was parried out by Dean Henderson only as far as the Brazilian who nailed his brace.
Man Utd 2, Liverpool 3: 68. Edinson Cavani threaded Marcus Rashford through and the striker beat Alisson to reduce the deficit.
Man Utd 2, Liverpool 4: 90. Curtis Jones picked out Mo Salah for an uncontested run into the United half as the Reds were caught looking for the equaliser – the Egyptian made no mistake and beat Henderson to deflate United.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Liverpool 4
Man Utd: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly (Matic 86), Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (Greenwood 63), Rashford, Fernandes, Pogba, Cavani
Man Utd subs not used: De Gea, Mata, Diallo, Telles, Wiliams, van de Beek, Tuanzebe
Bookings: Bailly 50 (foul on Diogo Jota); McTominay 80 (foul on Fabinho); Cavani 85 (foul on Tiago Silva)
Goals: Fernandes 10; Rashford 68
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Rhys Williams, Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Wijnaldum (Jones 74), Salah (Neco Williams 90+2), Firmino, Jota (Mane 74)
Liverpool subs not used: Adrian, Kelleher, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Origi, Woodburn
Goals: Jota 34; Firmino 45+3, 47; Salah 90
Referee: Anthony Taylor