Rooney sucker-punch stuns Reds
Print Edition
MANCHESTER United captain Wayne Rooney pounced to score a 78th-minute winner as his side stunned eternal rival Liverpool with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at a freezing Anfield yesterday.
Presiding over his first game against United, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp watched his team dominate, but Rooney punished their profligacy with his fifth goal in four games, a close-range snapshot after Marouane Fellaini had hit the bar.
It was United’s first shot on target, but it was enough to give visiting manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win over Liverpool in four games and a first away victory since the 2-1 success at Watford on November 21.
Victory took United to within two points of the Champions League places and allowed it to reclaim fifth place from West Ham United, leaving Liverpool six points back in ninth place, its top-four hopes fading.
They may be England’s two most decorated clubs, but Liverpool and United are not this season’s leading contenders and a scrappy, shapeless first half reflected both clubs’ recent difficulties.
Both teams had drawn 3-3 on their previous outings — Liverpool at home to Arsenal, United at Newcastle United — but there was to be no frenzied attacking to warm the 43,865 shivering souls at Anfield.
What quality football there was came chiefly from Liverpool and, in particular, Roberto Firmino, preferred once again to Christian Benteke as the nominal frontman.
He was involved in two early chances, first drilling narrowly wide after Jordan Henderson, freed by Lucas Leiva, had seen a header palmed away by the outrushing David de Gea and then releasing James Milner to slice wide with a fine, half-volley.
It was from a Firmino flick, meanwhile, that Henderson flashed a shot across goal and wide after a neat move also involving Adam Lallana.
The Brazilian looked poised to put Liverpool ahead six minutes before half-time, but as he cocked his right foot to shoot, Anthony Martial nipped in to intervene.
A ragged half for the visitors ended with Ashley Young hobbling off after appearing to injure his groin, with youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson coming on.
Injured United trio Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo were among the fans in the away end and they could only look on with concern as Liverpool’s dominance continued in the second half, De Gea saving with his feet after Emre Can had flummoxed Chris Smalling with a step-over.
Anthony Martial threatened in the 56th, fizzing a shot wide after Borthwick-Jackson’s cross was deflected into his path, but Liverpool was soon back on top. De Gea fielded a side-foot effort from Henderson and then plunged to his right to parry an effort from Can before springing up to claw away Firmino’s cross from the rebound.
Van Gaal sent on Juan Mata, match-winner in United’s 2-1 victory at Anfield last March, and Memphis Depay, but still the hosts came, Mamadou Sakho heading Milner’s cross over.
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