Liverpool v Manchester United (2018-19)

Liverpool v Manchester United (2018-19)

Liverpool Man Utd 3 1
Report
Event	Premier League 2018-19
Date	Sunday 16 December 2018
Venue	Anfield, Liverpool
Player of the Match	Fabinho
Referee	Martin Atkinson
Attendance	52,908
Weather	6 °C (43 °F)
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Liverpool v Manchester United was a match which took place at Anfield on Sunday 16 December 2018.

Xherdan Shaqiri came off the bench to inspire a Liverpool victory over a lacklustre Manchester United that takes them back to the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool needed the win after Manchester City beat Everton on Saturday - and it was substitute Shaqiri's rapid-fire double strike in the second half that gave Jurgen Klopp's side the three points they fully deserved.

Sadio Mane's 24th-minute volley from Fabinho's perfect delivery gave Liverpool the lead their lightning start merited, only for a dreadful error by goalkeeper Alisson to give United an unlikely lifeline before the break when he fumbled Romelu Lukaku's cross into the path of Jesse Lingard.

United barely offered an attacking threat but were frustrating Liverpool until Klopp introduced Shaqiri with less than 20 minutes remaining, with devastating effect.

Meanwhile, Paul Pogba remained an unused substitute on United's bench, Jose Mourinho opting instead to bring on Marouane Fellaini at the interval with his side short of inspiration.

There was an element of good fortune about both of the Swiss international's goals, one deflected in from close range and the other off Eric Bailly to beat keeper David de Gea - but one cannot begrudge Liverpool their victory against this desperately ordinary United side.

Liverpool and Klopp faced a pivotal week in their season that would shape the immediate future - and they answered the questions posed of them in emphatic fashion.

The two tasks in hand were to get the victory they needed over Napoli to reach the last 16 of the Champions League then beat Manchester United to return to the Premier League summit.

Liverpool showed no hangover from their midweek efforts in successfully achieving that Champions League mission as they set about United with relish and went ahead through Mane - although Alisson's gift to Lingard stopped their momentum and gave Mourinho's side a chance of the point that seemed to be the extent of their ambitions.

Shaqiri's introduction changed all that to leave Klopp's men still unbeaten in the league and United 19 points adrift of their arch-rivals.

Liverpool are currently in the sort of mood where they believe anything is possible and the signing of Shaqiri has added to their collection of match-winners.

Mohamed Salah was quiet but Shaqiri stepped up in an impressive demonstration of the squad strength at Klopp's disposal.

Manchester United and manager Mourinho may point to the two decisive deflections on Shaqiri's goals - but they would be fooling only themselves if they believe they deserved anything from this game.

Mourinho's gameplan, predictably, was one of physical strength and containment that Liverpool were dealing with dismissively until Alisson's blunder threw them off their stride.

The Old Trafford boss added further physical power in the shape of Fellaini at half-time but it was still Liverpool, albeit nowhere near as impressively as in the first period, who were positive and pushing, while United were passive.

Pogba was not even used and Anthony Martial arrived when it was too late - while Klopp brought on the maverick game-changer Shaqiri to make the difference.

The contrast was almost symbolic, demonstrating just how quickly United are heading in the opposite direction to this vibrant Liverpool side.

Match

Details

16 December 2018 16:00	Liverpool	3–1	Manchester United	Anfield, Liverpool Attendance: 52,908 Referee: Martin Atkinson
	Mané  24' Shaqiri  73', 80'	Report	Lingard  33'

Liverpool

Man Utd

13 Alisson 02 Nathaniel Clyne 06 Dejan Lovren 04 Virgil van Dijk 26 Andrew Robertson 05 Georginio Wijnaldum 03 Fabinho 08 Naby Keïta 70' 11 Mohamed Salah 09 Roberto Firmino 10 Sadio Mané 84' Substitutes: 14 Jordan Henderson 84' 15 Daniel Sturridge 18 Alberto Moreno 20 Adam Lallana 22 Simon Mignolet 23 Xherdan Shaqiri 70' 64 Rafael Camacho Manager: Jürgen Klopp

01 David de Gea 36 Matteo Darmian 12 Chris Smalling 02 Victor Lindelöf 20 Diogo Dalot 45' 14 Jesse Lingard 85' 31 Nemanja Matić 21 Ander Herrera 79' 18 Ashley Young 10 Marcus Rashford 09 Romelu Lukaku Substitutes: 03 Eric Bailly 06 Paul Pogba 08 Juan Mata 85' 11 Anthony Martial 79' 22 Sergio Romero 25 Antonio Valencia 27 Marouane Fellaini 45' Manager: José Mourinho

See also

• 2018-19 Premier League: Match day 17

External links

• Match report at BBC.co.uk