MANCHESTER UNITED sauntered into the FA Cup fifth-round after toppling Liverpool in a five-goal thriller at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood assisted each other as Mo Salah bagged a double in an entertaining clash.
Bruno Fernandes scored the winner with a free-kick after coming on as a subCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Marcus Rashford scores the Red Devils’ second goalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Mason Greenwood celebrates scoring to bring Manchester United level at 1-1Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But Bruno Fernandes climbed off the bench for a disappointing Donny van de Beek to smash home the winner with a perfect free-kick.
SunSport’s Josh Graham hands out his ratings for the Red Devils.
Dean Henderson – 7/10
Did brilliantly to divert a very dangerous ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold to safety early in the piece.
Not much he could do to stop Salah’s delightful dink flying over him for the opener but might have done more when he was nutmegged by the Egyptian King later on.
Made a number of smart stops as Liverpool took the ascendancy.
Mo Salah dinked over Dean Henderson to break the deadlock in the FA Cup tieCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Quiet first-half but will be disappointed he allowed Andy Robertson to get in behind him and send a dangerous ball into the box at the back end of the first 45.
Went about his business after the break without too much alarm – handling the arrival of Sadio Mane from Jurgen Klopp’s bench.
Victor Lindelof – 4
The Swede was caught in no man’s land as Roberto Firmino’s gorgeous ball cut through the heart of United’s defence and Mo Salah chipped in.
Lost out in an aerial battle with Firmino in the second-half but was let off the hook as James Milner blazed over.
Harry Maguire – 5
Maguire was clattered early on by James Milner when looking to impose himself driving the ball forward.
And he should have done more to impose himself and prevent the ball rolling across the box for Salah’s second.
Luke Shaw – 7
Shaw was hugely impressive for United in the first-half as he continued his rich vein of form.
A mix of superb defending and pin-point set-piece delivery saw him catch the eye in the first 45 minutes.
After the break, he seemed to struggle more with Salah’s rampaging runs in from the right.
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Luke Shaw impressed in both defence and attack in the first-halfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Paul Pogba – 7
A slow start to the game and should have done better with a free header from Shaw’s corner in the 35th minute.
Happy to do the important dirty work as his team-mates grabbed the goal involvements – one surging run down the right gave a timely reminder of what he can do going forward.
Scott McTominay – 5
Struggled to get into the match early on and was too slow to close down Liverpool’s attack before Salah’s opener.
Not his best display in the red shirt.
Mason Greenwood – 8
Greenwood equalised for United with a sublime finish at Old TraffordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Showed his threat with plenty of marauding runs down the right and after receiving a sensational pass from Marcus Rashford, cushioned the ball with his chest and finished expertly with his right peg to level the game at 1-1.
He returned the favour for Rashford immediately in the second-half -sending his team-mate rushing onto goal for United’s second.
Donny van de Beek – 4
Showed his rustiness and lack of confidence by refusing to take on the Liverpool defence when set free by Scott McTominay in the first-half.
He then tamely collapsed over Alisson’s leg with a loud shriek after misplacing his ball across the box, having been found expertly by Rashford.
Solskjaer put him out of his misery after 65 minutes by bringing on Bruno Fernandes… who duly bagged a sensational free-kick.
Marcus Rashford – 9
Rashford dazzled for United as they trumped rivals LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
A clash of heads with Thiago seemed to spark the nation’s sweetheart into life as he sprayed an unreal pass into his England team-mate Mason Greenwood’s path for the equaliser.
A constant thorn in Liverpool’s right-hand side, Rashford’s pace and guile was often far too much to handle.
Greenwood turned provider immediately after the break and this time Rashford nonchalantly caressed the ball past Alisson.
Worryingly went straight down the tunnel with a knee complaint late on.
Edinson Cavani – 5
Provided one moment of magic for the highlight reel when he back-heeled the ball gorgeously into Greenwood.
But was mostly ineffective and unforgivably gave the ball away in the build-up to Salah’s second goal.
Redeemed himself somewhat by winning the free-kick that Fernandes dispatched and almost completed the turnaround when he headed against the post.
SUBS
Bruno Fernandes (on for Van de Beek, 66) – 8
Almost lobbed Alisson with a mis-hit cross after coming off the bench before firing a sensational free-kick into the bottom corner.
Fred (on for Greenwood, 66) – 5
Anthony Martial (on for Rashford, 86) – N/A
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
