Jurgen Klopp finally tasted success at Old Trafford as the Reds celebrated his first win at Old Trafford as Liverpool beat Manchester United 4-2 to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
In what finally felt more like a Northwest Derby – a game that has lacked the feel of the occasion in the recent past including multiple cagey 0-0 affairs, this was all about attacking football – there were doubts on whether the game would be played in the first place given the protests that were ongoing from United fans outside the ground against the owners – the Glazers.
However, United fans allowed for their team to play the game and it started off really well for the Red Devils. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring after brilliant team play from Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Bruno Fernandes took the shot on from inside Liverpool‘s box with an out-stepper that looked like was bending towards the goal but a nasty deflection off Nathaniel Phillips meant that Alisson stood no chance of saving the ball from going into the back of the net.
United deserved the opening goal as their sharpness and fluidity were there to be seen. However, they tapered off majorly and how!
But Liverpool, who had seen one of their buses prevented from picking team members up before the game after being blocked in the street, hit back through Diogo Jota’s instinctive effort in the 34th minute.
Roberto Firmino, who was goalless in 15 consecutive games, put his side just before half-time to put Liverpool in the driving seat.
Less than 2 minutes into the second half, a bunch of horrendous clearances by United led to an open strike for the Brazilian Firmino again. After having gone 15 games without a goal, he had 2 inside 3 minutes to give Liverpool a 2-goal advantage early in the second half.
Manchester United fans came out in huge numbers once again to protest against the owners – the Glazers. (Photo by Andy Barton/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford pulled one back for the home side in the 68th minute but Mohamed Salah ensured the 3 points were going to be Liverpool’s with a late counterattacking strike in the 90th minute to seal the deal as the 19-time English champions picked up 3 crucial points.
This was Salah’s 20th league goal, moving him to level with Harry Kane in the Premier League Golden Boot standings. This was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sixth home defeat with United this season and second consecutive after failure against Leicester 2 days prior.
The result takes Liverpool fifth in the Premier League behind Leicester City and Chelsea with whom they are in direct contention with for the remaining two Champions League spots as both Manchester clubs have already secured their spots for next season.
If the Reds win at already relegated West Brom on Sunday, they will close the gap on Chelsea and Leicester, who still have to play each other at Stamford Bridge on 18th May.
Brendan Rodgers was in charge of the Liverpool the last time the Reds managed to beat United in an away game, dating back to 2014.
Manchester United have lost two home games in three days for the first time since April 1958 but they can be forgiven as these two games had nothing really for them to play for. Having 4 games in 7 days meant they had much less of a break as compared to all the other teams as well.
United have conceded 27 home goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a single league campaign since 1969-70 (also 27).
Manchester United are next in action against already relegated Fulham, which will see fans return to Old Trafford for the first time since March 2020, on Tuesday, 18th May.
