Photo: Bruno Fernandes came off the bench to score the winner for Manchester United in a 3-2 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday. (Getty Images)
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer secured his first win against Liverpool in his managerial career when Manchester United ran out 3-2 winners over Liverpool in the FA Cup’s fourth round on Sunday. Left on the bench at the start of the game, United’s talisman, Bruno Fernandes came up with a late winner to send the Red Devils into the last sixteen.
Both teams had played out a 0-0 draw in the Premier League a week earlier at Anfield, but in a game where there had to be a winner, goals were guaranteed.
Manchester United shaded possession at the start of the game and looked more likely to score, but were stunned when Liverpool took the lead through Mo Salah. The Egyptian scored the first goal of the match at minute 18 when he collected a beautiful pass from Roberto Firmino and chipped the ball over the advancing Dean Henderson.
The Red Devils responded a mere eight minutes later through Mason Greenwood. A raking cross field pass from Marcus Rashford went just over the head of the retreating Liverpool captain James Milner which Greenwood controlled on his chest, before stroking into the far corner beyond the outstretched leg of Allison in the Liverpool goal as the teams went in level at the break.
Shortly after the restart, it was Greenwood who would provide the assist for Rashford. A slide rule pass that split the Liverpool defence sent Rashford on his way and the striker showed good composure to set himself and stroke the ball into the far corner for 2-1 at minute 48.
But Liverpool were level ten minutes later when Salah got his second of the game following a United giveaway in midfield. A Milner dummy from a Roberto Firmino cross confused the United defense and Salah was able to slot home past Henderson to set up a grandstand finish between two great rivals.
A fresh-of-the-bench Fernandes then swept in and saved the day for the Red Devils with a stunning free-kick at the 78th minute, just 12 minutes after he was launched into the game. Fernandes fired the ball over the wall and into the far corner of the goal from the edge of the box, as he got his first goal against Liverpool.
Notable performers of this match included Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Roberto Firmino.
Paul Pogba, though not copping any of the goals for himself, was in a superb form to assist Greenwood with Rashford’s goal and was named Man of the Match.
Greenwood and Rashford being young players at 19 and 23 respectively are sometimes easy to overlook, but no spectator could make that mistake after such a striking match. Both youngsters assisted with the other’s goal with poise and superb accuracy.
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino also played a vital part in assisting Mo Salah with precise passes for both of Liverpool’s goals.
Through a series of accurate passes, superb ball control and quick defenses, the match was enthralling from start to finish. Manchester United will face West Ham in the fifth round on February 2.
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