Liverpool boost top-four hopes with win at Man Utdon May 13, 2021 at 9:43 pm

Roberto Firmino scores twice as Liverpool boost their hopes of a finishing in the top four of the Premier League by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But Liverpool, who had seen one of their buses prevented from picking team members up before the game after being blocked in the street, hit back through Diogo Jota’s instinctive effort.

Roberto Firmino, who had only scored once since his two-goal haul at Crystal Palace in December, then put his side on top with a well-taken double either side of half-time.

Marcus Rashford pulled one back for United midway through the second half but Mohamed Salah wrapped up the points with a late breakaway strike for his 21st Premier League goal of the season.

That moves him level with Harry Kane in the Golden Boot standings and condemns Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to a sixth home defeat of the season.

The result takes Liverpool fifth in the Premier League. If they win at West Brom on Sunday they will close to within one and three points respectively of FA Cup finalists Chelsea and Leicester, who still have to play each other at Stamford Bridge on 18 May.

Liverpool make light of penalty controversy

Brendan Rodgers was in charge in March 2014, the last time Liverpool beat United in an away game.

Jordan Henderson’s groin injury meant there was no-one left from that night in the visitors’ ranks, and Klopp celebrated his debut United away win with his double fist-pump as Salah scored.

Salah might have had the chance to get on the scoresheet much earlier in the game had referee Anthony Taylor not consulted the pitch side monitor and changed his decision to give a penalty for Eric Bailly’s tackle on Nat Phillips.

Knowing victory was needed to maintain a realistic top-four chance, Klopp appeared distinctly unimpressed by the incident. The Ivorian defender certainly played the ball first but the force behind the challenge sent his defender flying.

In a game that started to the sound of a police helicopter whirring overhead, Liverpool did not have to wait long for another chance.

Jota’s finish was excellent but United’s defence stood off Phillips after a corner, allowing him to run and turn before his shot spun to the feet of his Portuguese team-mate.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s superb delivery to the far post in first-half stoppage time invited Firmino’s header to put Liverpool ahead – and was a timely reminder of his ability with England boss Gareth Southgate watching from the stands.

United struggle without Maguire

This was one of those nights that made you wonder how United have managed to get themselves in line for a second-place finish.

Unlike Tuesday’s defeat by Leicester, this could not be put down to a weakened team.

The hosts even had a helping had for their opening goal, as Phillips turned home a Fernandes effort that may just have been curling in at the far post.

Liverpool’s first two goals exposed long-existing frailties defending set-pieces. Their third was terrible defensively, as Fred giving the ball away with a blind pass to the wing from inside his own box.

Dean Henderson then spilled Alexander-Arnold’s fierce shot straight to Firmino, who applied the first-time finish.

Another misplaced Fred pass began the counter-attack that led to Jota firing against the post. Little wonder Harry Maguire, sat in the stands nursing an ankle injury that threatens to keep him out of the Europa League final with Villarreal on 26 May, bellowed encouragement from the sidelines.

The flowing move that led to Rashford’s goal on 68 minutes showed United’s attacking ability but, without Maguire, they struggle badly at the back at Salah’s pace exposed them again at the end to finish off any hope of a comeback.

Angry United fans make voices heard again

Addressing the protests before the game that Greater Manchester Police revealed had led to two arrests, a club official said the Glazer family were committed to communicating to supporters in a different way.

Quite simply, many of those fans do not believe the message.

Co-chairman Joel Glazer is due to speak at a Fans Forum for the first time after the season has finished. Before that though, United must get through their final home game of the campaign, against Fulham on 18 May, when 10,000 fans will be in attendance.

It is impossible to conceive the barriers that have been erected outside the stadium will remain with so many people about. It is fairly obvious the huge numbers of police will be back, although there is nothing they can do to stop the anti-Glazer chants that seem almost inevitable.

What next?

Manchester United are next in action against Fulham, which is due to be the first game at Old Trafford in front of fans since March last year, on Tuesday, 18 May (18:00 BST). Liverpool go to relegated West Brom on Sunday, 16 May (16:30 BST).

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