MANCHESTER UNITED lost 2-0 at Anfield thanks to an early Virgil van Dijk header and a Mo Salah effort at the death.
The home side deserved the win but United did not disgrace themselves and if Anthony Martial had scored his one-on-one in the second-half rather than blasting over the bar, it could have been a different story.
Fred had one of his best games in a Man Utd shirtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Harry Maguire’s performance as captain could have been betterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Liverpool could have had a few more and had one disallowed by VAR in the first-half but United hung in and made a game of it until the end.
The Reds moved 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League while United remain fifth and here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of the Red Devils’ individual performances.
DAVID DE GEA – 6
Let down by his defenders for Liverpool’s opener but couldn’t do much with it.
Bailed out by VAR when his spilled cross under a 50/50 challenge from Virgil van Dijk saw Roberto Firmino slam the ball home for what would have been Liverpool’s second.
Booked for screaming at the ref before VAR intervened.
Solid save with his legs from Mane’s effort just before the break.
Fantastic fingertip save to tip Henderson’s effort on to the post just after half-time.
AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 5
Unlucky not to have an assist to his name when Andreas Pereira fluffed his lines to equalise after the right-back’s excellent cut back across the box.
Looked shattered almost straight after half-time.
Was run ragged in the second-half by some exquisite wing play from Mane.
VICTOR LINDELOF – 5
Lost concentration for Firmino’s disallowed effort.
It was luck rather than effort or ability that saw Liverpool limited to just two goals.
David De Gea was bailed out by VAR after he spilled a cross that led to Firmino’s disallowed effortCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Spaniard was fuming with the ref for not giving a foul and was bookedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Luke Shaw put in a battling performance against Mo SalahCredit: PA:Press Association
HARRY MAGUIRE – 4
Should have been closer to van Dijk at the corner that saw his team go one down early on.
As captain, to let Williams mark the Dutchman virtually single-handed was not good enough.
Big clubs need big leaders in big games at the highest level which is where Man Utd say they want to be and this was not quite there from United’s new permanent skipper.
LUKE SHAW (subbed off, 87 mins) – 7
Battling performance.
Booked for a ‘take one for the team’ foul on Salah in the second-half.
Defended aggressively against the Egyptian throughout.
Done himself proud before he was subbed off with cramp.
BRANDON WILLIAMS (subbed off, 74 mins) – 5
Bullied by van Dijk before the Dutchman nodded home but was a victim of the zonal marking system implemented by his manager.
Proper baptism of fire this and will hopefully learn some lessons from a tough night.
NEMANJA MATIC – 6
Booked early on for high foot on Wijnaldum.
Conducted himself well after that.
Marshalled things well and helped link the play quickly on the occasions his side attacked their hosts.
FRED – 8
One of his best performances in an United shirt.
Had to work in defence as all teams do against this talented Liverpool team.
But got himself involved going forward, especially in the second-half and can walk off with his head held high.
Showing real benefit of a consistent run in the team.
Andreas Pereira missed a chance before half-time to draw the scores levelCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anthony Martial fluffed United’s best chance of the gameCredit: Reuters
The Frenchman smashed over from 12 yards out when through on goal in the second-halfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
ANDREAS PEREIRA (subbed off, 74 mins) – 5
Missed a huge chance to equalise at the end of the first-half when Wan-Bissaka played the ball across the six-yard box.
He slid in at the far post but failed to prod it home from close range.
Played Martial in for the sitter he missed in the second-half.
Some sloppy passing in a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance.
DANIEL JAMES – 5
Looked a level or six away from the world class wingers he was up against in Salah and Sadio Mane.
Tough afternoon in which he struggled to make any real impact.
Could have done more when chasing Salah down at the end to prevent United’s second but he was also the only one to chase back and it might not have mattered anyway.
ANTHONY MARTIAL – 5
Lively first-half but fairly isolated.
Couple of efforts but was starved of any real service as Liverpool piled the pressure on.
Missed a massive chance on the hour mark – opted for power instead of placement when through on goal from ten yards out and blazed over.
Those are the huge chances top level strikers score – or at least hit the target.
He is on the pitch for moments like that.
Subs
JUAN MATA (replaced Pereira) – 6
Got himself right involved in United’s push for an equaliser at the end of the game.
GREENWOOD – (replaced Williams) – 5
Ball didn’t drop to him as he came on to chase the equaliser.
DALOT (replaced Shaw) – 6
Got on the ball a couple of times trying to make a difference.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
