Super League MD04 #2 Liverpool v #13 Manchester United
LIV - Thiago do Nascimento [1] 8’
MUN - Marcus Rashford [1] 45’+
LIV - Roberto Firmino [2] 63’
LIV - Sadio Mane [2] 67’
MUN - Marcus Rashford [2] 88’
MUN - Donny van de Beek YC 19’
MD04 - [2] LIVERPOOL V. [13] MANCHESTER UNITED [3-2]
ALL TIME RECORD: MANCHESTER UNITED 12GM; 4W-4L-4D; 20-18 GF/GA
It has been a long wait to get back to #1 for Liverpool despite a solid opening that sees them with 7 points from 3 matches and a 1-1 draw in Paris last week. Tonight they lick their chops in anticipation of clobbering their fellow North England rivals, United and seizing the SL1 apex. You’ve got to figure, taking it away from Liverpool is going to be an arduous task.
As for United, they languish in 13th place, 1-4 to City and 0-2 to Spurs in their last two. Could there possibly be an upset tonight at Anfield? Liverpool’s initial statement on the matter was a depressing one for United with Mo Salah lofting to Thiago in the 8th minute. Thiago chested the ball down and fired away, the ball clipping Lindelhof on its way to the net as De Gea had no shot with the deflection. Absolutely, if it doesn’t clip Lindelhof, it doesn’t go in, these are the scenarios that find you when things have gone south.
United found some good fortune however as the match wore on, Firmino had a goal denied for offside and De Gea turned away excellent shots from Wijnaldum and Salah to keep it 0-1. United would even find an unlikely equalizer when Bruno Fernandes rifled a shot from the edge of the box, Allison made the initial save, but the ball deflected to Rashford, who had an easy rebound into the open net, unexpectedly, it was 1-1 at half.
The longer is goes on, the nervier it gets doesn’t it? And Liverpool had reasons to be nervous, 15 minutes into the 2nd half, the best chance at a 2nd goal belonged to United, the vaunted Liverpool offense uncharacteristically quiet.
Keeping them quiet for 15 minutes is called a fortunate set of circumstances however and Liverpool returned to life. In the 63rd Mane, off the bench today, placed a lead pass to Firmino in the box, who proceeded to smash it into the back of net, a bit more forcefully than needed, but these things are understandable. Four minutes later, Sane would take it himself, a rocket blast from close range that beat De Gea near side.
And just like that, the blitz had done its job, 3-1 Liverpool. Marcus Rashford added a second for United in the 88th, 3-1 certainly looks better and United even had one last run to potentially equalize, but thankfully for Liverpool, Allison turned it away without trouble.
It took 4 match days but Liverpool are back, the defending champs look down upon everyone else once again. There are many chomping at the bit though and it is a very long haul to MD30 so this story is just beginning.
MD05: Liverpool at struggling City; United hope to end their 3 game losing streak hosting Chelsea.