United Outclassed At Anfield

Manchester United were beaten 2-0 by fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield after goals from Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah downed the Red Devils. 

Liverpool had been in scintillating form coming into the game and had won their previous 12 league games after drawing 1-1 with United at Old Trafford in October. United came into the tie with mixed form but were without their top-scorer Marcus Rashford who picked up an injury in their FA Cup replay win over Wolves. 

Liverpool dominated the game from the get-go and were in front after just 14 minutes. A freekick from the right-hand side was delivered perfectly and was met by the head of the towering Van Dijk who sent a bullet header past David De Gea to send Anfield into meltdown. Perhaps rookie defending by United as the young Brandon Williams was left to mark the giant Dutch centre-half. 

Then in the 24th minute, the infamous VAR had to make an appearance. A delivery was cleared by United and sent into the air which left De Gea and Van Dijk challenging for the ball and the keeper seemed to drop the ball under the challenge which then fell to Firmino who slotted home. It seemed a reasonable goal and the referee gave it only for VAR to rule that Van Dijk fouled De Gea and the goal was chalked off. 

In the 38th minute, Liverpool had the ball in the back of the United net for the third time after Oxlade-Chamberlain fizzed a wonderful through ball into Wijndaldum. He squeezed the ball past De Gea and just inside the far post, but the linesman had his flag raised. 

United had a huge chance just before half-time as Wan-Bissaka played the ball in behind the defence to Anthony Martial who squared the ball to Andreas Pereira but he couldn’t get on the end of it. 

Liverpool started the second half in a similar fashion as they could’ve had a second goal in the 48th minute. Andrew Robertson drove down the left and found Salah with a cross and all he had to do was direct it goalward but he kicked it into his standing foot and it trickled wide. 

United applied some pressure in the last half hour but it seemed to be soaked up by Liverpool every time. Martial sent a cross in for mason Greenwood who couldn’t meet it and United were running out of time. 

Liverpool wrapped the game up in the last minute as United pushed up for a corner which was gathered by Allison. He then sent a long ball up to Salah who slotted the ball under De Gea to cap a good display for the hosts who look certain to win the Premier League now. 

A poor day for united which highlighted the lack of creativity and depth in the squad.