Manchester United 2 - 4 Liverpool | PL | 13.05.21

Liverpool produced a brilliant performance to triumph over Manchester United 4-2 in a thrilling game at Old Trafford on Thursday night. The fixture, rescheduled after the incidents 11 days ago, showcased a Liverpool performance missing for most of the season. Firmino, Jota, and Salah scored for the visitors, but Trent Alexander-Arnold sparkled with Southgate watching on.

The start from both sides was lively. United enjoyed much of the early possession; Liverpool broke quickly when they won possession back. The away sides' first sight on goal came after Alexander-Arnold intercepted a pass from Luke Shaw. He played an incisive ball into Firmino, bearing down on goal, who chose to pass when he might have been better placed to strike. An early scare for Liverpool came from Alisson's odd pass. Cavani intercepted his poor attempt to recycle the play; The Uruagian could only hit wide under pressure from Williams on a quiet night for the striker.

United's attacking play came through Aaron Wan Bissaka, who found a lot of space early on down the right. It was through him that Solskjaer's men took an early lead. After receiving a pass from Rashford, the right-back turned inside smartly and passed back to Bruno Fernandes. The United man struck at goal with the outside of his foot; the shot looked to be creeping wide, but Nat Phillips deflected the effort past his keeper. Phillips' lack of experience told in his positioning, an awful start for the Merseysiders, but the young defender responded well from his mistake.

Klopp's men responded well after the goal, controlling the ball for longer periods, but the home side looked stronger and more composed in general. Their attacks carried more threat. Any Liverpool threat came through Alexander-Arnold; he was Liverpool's most potent creator throughout. After 20 mins, he put in a lovely cross into Jota, running behind Eric Bailey from his advanced position. Henderson showed great anticipation to spread himself and smoother the opportunity before it materialised.

Minutes later, after the United goal, Liverpool's continued pressure looked to have given them a route back into the game. Bailly's reckless challenge on Philips in the area was initially adjudged to have been a foul and a penalty. After deliberating with VAR and consulting the monitor, Anthony Taylor changed his decision. Inconsistencies of VAR rearing its head once again.

Just after the half-hour, Jota had a smart left-footed strike tipped over by Henderson. The resulting corner led to Liverpool's equaliser. Phillips was involved again. From a scramble in the box, the defender struck towards the goal. His effort, met by Diogo Jota, was skillfully flicked past a stretched Henderson, his 9th Premier League in a productive first season. United looked a little frantic without Maguire's commanding influence.

Soljksear's men regained their composure for a short time in the closing stages of the half. Pogba had a drive on his weaker foot that only hit the side netting, but Liverpool were not perturbed. They continued to push and won a free-kick at the end of the half. Trent was the man for Liverpool again. His pinpoint delivery found Firmino at the back post to head home for a well deserved half time lead.

In the second period, there was no letting up. It an absolute mess from United's perspective, but Firmino struck not a minute after the restart. A comedy of defensive errors ending up with an Alexander-Arnold shot feebly parried back into the danger area, which Firmino dispatched for his second.

The home side's lack of incentives compared to their guests was telling. Liverpool were more aggressive, first to every second ball and pressed intently at every opportunity. They should have made it 4-1 just before the hour—another counter-attack from a United unforced error. Fred was the culprit this time. Alexander-Arnold found Salah, who played it into Firmino. Assessing his options, he played in Jota, unopposed, but his effort from close range came back off the woodwork to Henderson's delight. The game was there for Liverpool to kill off the tie.

United's response was to bring on another attacker, Mason Greenwood. The change brought a much more significant attacking presence. Rashford provided their route back. Only a few minutes later, a break down through the middle from Liverpool gave United a 3v3. Cavani played Rashford in behind, who cooly slotted past Alisson before Robertson could recover. Two minutes later, it could easily have been 3-3. A classic goalmouth scramble in the Liverpool box, blocked and eventually cleared before Greenwood to score.

We were treated to a tense final twenty. The home team had a few efforts through Rashford's and Fernandes, while Liverpool could have sealed it with a Salah break. Meanwhile, McTominay was fortunate not to see red. The Scot pulled down Mane, moments after being booked. Liverpool weathered the United pressure in the late stages before a fatal breakaway finished off the game. Klopp's men won back possession, with United pushing for an equaliser. Salah ran in on goal unopposed from Curtis Jones' pass to calmly score and ice the game. With that goal, the Egyptian pulled level with Harry Kane in the race for the golden boot.

4-2 it finished to the visitors. Liverpool showed grit and resolve, which has been missing for most of the season in a fine win in Manchester. It was clear United's minds were elsewhere; this defeat will have no bearing on their progressive season, but a loss to Liverpool is never an easy pill to swallow for United and their fans.