MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 8.5, Valencia 7, Jones 7, Evans 7, Young 6.5, Carrick 8, Fellaini 6.5, Mata 7, Rooney 7.5 (Falcao 77), Van Persie 7, Wilson 6 (Herrera 71mins, 6)
LIVERPOOL: Jones 6, Skrtel 6, Johnson 5 (Toure 25, 6), Lovren 6, Moreno 5 (Markovic 68, 6), Henderson 5, Allen 5, Gerrard 5, Coutinho 6, Lallana 5 (Balotelli 46, 6), Sterling 4
Manchester United continues to grind out results as they thump Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford as Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin Van Persie score for the hosts.
Liverpool started the game on a bright note but gradually faded out of the game as the home side’s clinical finishing and David De Gea’s stellar performance took centre-stage they were literally knocked out of the contest. Raheem Sterling missed a host of chances which were a contributing factor in Liverpool’s dismal performance.
United opened the scoring with a blistering counterattack led by Antonio Valencia which was capped off with a sublime finish by Wayne Rooney who thumped it past Brad Jones. The hosts gradually started to assert themselves and were soon rewarded with a second goal as Juan Mata headed ball into the back of the net on a Ashley Young’s cross. There was a hint of offside as it seemed van Persie had clipped the ball on the way to Mata before the he headed the ball home.
The second half was more about Liverpool’s tactical blunders. Rodgers decision to sub Lallana for Balotelli gave United defence a bit of respite as Liverpool lost all the sheen and pace from the attack. Also, they slacked in pressing the Reds centre-halves who had ample of time to play the ball out from defence. Raheem Sterling missed a one on one with David De Gea, who had a superb night between the sticks. The Spanish stopper denied Mario Ballotelli twice and thus frustrated Liverpool even more.
United scored their third on the counter as Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie linked up to kill the tie once and for all as the Dutchman thumped the ball into the open net. United are now third and 10 points ahead of their Merseyside rivals.
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