Manchester United get the better of Liverpool in FA Cup after a five-goal thriller

Old Trafford’s red seemed a lot brighter than that of the Anfield as the talisman Bruno Fernandes tucked in a stunning freekick, first using Paul Pogba to blindsight Alisson and then going for his left-hand corner. Manchester United won the match 3-2, knocking down the Liverpool ship in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

After playing out a disappointing deadlock at Anfield in a Premier League fixture last week, this match – destined to provide a result – saw both the teams’ stars in Bruno Fernandes and Sadio Mane start off the bench.

Liverpool – who were coming off their first defeat at Anfield in nearly four years only to fall six points behind United at the top of the table – went with a strong side despite making five changes as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino returned.

Firmino and Salah combined perfectly for the opener on 18 minutes as the Brazilian’s pass opened up the United defence and the Egyptian provided a dinked finish over Dean Henderson. Liverpool’s only goals in their previous five games came against an Aston Villa youth team in the last round of the FA Cup after Dean Smith’s side were struck down by a coronavirus outbreak.

Klopp hasn’t won a game at Old Trafford in four visits as the last victory for Liverpool in United’s den came in March 2014, a 3-0 win by Brendan Rodgers’ side. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and company made sure, their habit of coming from behind wrote another failure at Old Trafford in Jurgen Klopp’s biography.

Rashford’s raking cross-field pass just evaded James Milner and Greenwood did not look like a striker lacking confidence as he fired past Alisson Becker for his first goal in 11 games.

A number of injuries to centre-backs have disrupted Liverpool’s season with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez expected to miss the rest of the season, while Joel Matip has struggled to stay fit.

Klopp has been forced to field two midfielders in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho together at the heart of the defence in recent weeks and the performance of 19-year-old Rhys Williams showed why the German has been reluctant to rely on his young centre-backs.

Williams failed to cut out Greenwood’s through ball for Rashford three minutes into the second half and the England international composed himself before slotting past the advancing Alisson.

This time, United’s momentum was short-lived as Milner should have levelled for Liverpool when he spooned a glorious chance over from close range, but quickly made amends by teeing up Salah to smash home his second just before the hour mark.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed Fernandes a rare rest from the start, but still picked a side packed with firepower featuring Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba.

Trent Alexander-Arnold stung the palms of Henderson, who then saved twice from Salah as Liverpool’s attack began to click back into gear.

But it was Fernandes who won the game with a brilliant free-kick 12 minutes from time.

This week will be the first anniversary of the Portuguese’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon that has transformed United’s fortunes.

A year ago, United trailed Liverpool by 30 points in the Premier League having played two games more. The past seven days have shown they are now more than a match for their old rivals. United will face West Ham in the last 16 next month.