Like a thief in the night, Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney volleyed home a late winner to snatch an unlikely 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, leaving Reds fans ashen-faced and empty-handed; and United fans delirious.
This should have been Liverpool’s day. They dominated and created opportunities, but couldn’t find the back of the net. They launched no less than 19 shots at United’s goal, but only four of them troubled in-form goalkeeper David de Gea.
So what happened? Here’s a breakdown of how the media reported it.
“Somehow the worst Manchester United side for decades secured the spoils – despite having just one shot on target and spending most of the afternoon grimly holding on for a point,” wrote James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.
“Liverpool have now lost four consecutive games against one of the worst United teams in the past 30 years,” added the Echo’s Andy Kelly. “The descent of Louis van Gaal’s team this season meant a win against them here (at Anfield) would have left Liverpool level on points but still outside the coveted top four. And a win it should have been – but yet again, nothing.”
Liverpool dominated the first half but United, for whom de Gea was the star, wore them down and snatched an unlikely victory as Wayne Rooney grabbed the winner when he volleyed home late in the second half.
“The outcome was cruel,” Pearce continued. “Liverpool didn’t deserve to lose. Yet they only had themselves to blame for a setback which effectively kills off any lingering hopes of launching a push for a top-four finish.”
In a game lacking the finesse or quailty of previous clashes between the two old foes, Liverpool launched a remarkable 19 shots at De Gea’s goal, but a combination of the Spaniard’s skill and the Reds’ inaccuracy ensured the visiting side of a clean sheet and, more importantly, three points and hope of a top-four finish. United on the other hand, needed only one solitary opportunity to win.
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“The reality is the club’s striking department is currently a mess,” Pearce wrote of the chronic injury problems plaguing Liverpool’s strike force. “Danny Ings is out for the season, Divock Origi is sidelined following knee surgery and Daniel Sturridge remains unable to convince the manager he’s fit for duty.
“The one recognised striker who is available just happens to be the second most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history and their top scorer with seven goals this term. But Christian Benteke faces an uncertain future having failed to nail down a starting role under (Liverpool manager Jurgen) Klopp. Once again the £32.5 million frontman was sat on the bench as the Reds toiled in search of a breakthrough.
“Even if it’s merely another loan which acts as a sticking plaster until the summer, signing a striker during the current window is a necessity if Liverpool are going to secure anything tangible between now and May.”
Meanwhile, United currently have no such dramas, with Rooney’s latest heroics netting him five goals in four matches, securing United six much-needed points and a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
“We were lucky the goal came to Wayne,” van Gaal told the Manchester Evening News. “A striker who scores is always very important and now he is scoring in a row and we are winning in a row. So I am happy for him and Manchester United and the fans because everybody wants to see Rooney scoring.”
United’s unlikely victory also extended van Gaal’s 100 per cent record against Liverpool to four league matches, providing the Dutchman with a tiny sliver of respite from his ever-growing army of disgruntled fans and media critics.
“You cannot dismiss a 100 per cent record against against Liverpool in four Premier League matches,” wrote Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News.
“At times you wonder how he (van Gaal) has managed it and this was one of those matches. This was one of those occasions where it wasn’t exactly as it said it was on the tin.”
Despite the media, van Gaal and Klopp exhorting the claims that this fixture was the biggest box office attraction on the Premier League calendar, “this wasn’t top-four fare,” added Mathieson. “It was sixth against ninth and sadly, no matter how you attempted to sugar coat it and wrap ot up that is exactly how it looked. There was little finesse and not all that much blood and thunder either.
“Liverpool passed the ball better to a United shirt than United were able to do and their attacking ideas, while brighter than the Reds for the most part, was blunt when it reached the last third. It allowed United to survive at a time when once again they didn’t seem too keen on attempting to send (Liverpool) keeper Simon Mignolet into a darker place than he already is.
“It was mind-numbingly second rate for so long that van Gaal’s philosophy on occasions like this is to force the opponent into frustrating submission.
“And whether you like it or not, it worked.”
Delighted with the win, van Gaal suggested that his side was still a contender for the title.
“For me and the players and the fans it is a fantastic win,“ van Gaal told the Manchester Evening News. “In the first half they were dominating. I have to admit we have survived the first half. Liverpool were more more aggressive and we couldn’t create anything. They created three chances and we were surviving.
“We came into the match in the second half and scored one of our two chances. We didn’t give so much away in the second half so I am a happy coach.”
Klopp meanwhile was disappointed with the outcome of his first “derby” against Manchester United.
“We played good, we made them problems, we were in the decisive last third often enough, had our chances and didn’t use one,” he told Liverpool FC TV. “… but at the end it’s frustrating if you lose. A game like this your bad games I think you have to lose sometimes but with a bit of luck you could win but with your good games you should win. And today was a good game but we lost.”
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