United punish wasteful Liverpool in Old Trafford thriller

Jurgen Klopp will be fuming after Liverpool twice threw away the lead, and wasted numerous chances, to crash out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

• Jurgen Klopp makes three changes from the team that played Sparta Prague
• Liverpool started poorly, gifting United the lead after 10 minutes
• Wataru Endo has a goal ruled off for off-side, with Salah's chest and shoulder ahead of the last defender
• Alexis Mac Allister scores with a lovely strike after a great run from Quansah creates havoc in the United defence
• Salah gives Liverpool the lead right on half time, tapping in from 4 yards after Onana had saved from Nunez
• HALF-TIME - Manchester United 1 - 2 Liverpool
• Nunez goes close twice at the start of the second half
• Bruno Fernandez, who was already on a yellow card, was lucky to escape a second yellow for a foul on Szoboszlai on the edge of the area
• Nunez and Diaz go close on numerous occasions in the second half
• Elliott replaces Szoboszlai with twenty minutes left
• Gakpo and Bradley replace Salah and Robertson, as Klopp looks to close out the game
  
• Anthony scorers late equaliser, after Liverpool squander a host of chances
• FULL-TIME - Manchester United 2 - 2 Liverpool
• Tsimika replaces Gomez at left-back
• Harvey Elliott scores long-range effort to restore Liverpool's lead
• Rashford brings United level again after Nunez gives the ball away in his own half
• Full-Time AET - Manchester United 4 - 3 Liverpool

Match Summary

Manchester United produced a blistering start, to stun Liverpool and take an early lead, when Scot McTominay fired into an empty net after Kelleher had produced a good save to deny Garnacho.  It was no more than United deserved, having started the match much better than Liverpool.  However, as the match wore on, Liverpool took control of the midfield, began to create chances, and left Old Trafford stunned at halftime, as they scored two late goals to go in 2 - 1 ahead.

As has been the case in recent weeks, Liverpool were sluggish in the first 15 minutes, with the midfield trio of Endo, Mac Alliser, and Szoboszlai failing to get any control of the game.  Instead, United controlled possession, creating several good openings before McTominay gave them the lead after 10 minutes.  Old Trafford was noisy before kick-off, but the goal raised the decibel levels even higher, as the crowd sensed a possible 'cupset'.

Despite their slow start, Liverpool had too much quality to panic and began to take control of the game, probing the United defense, and testing the keeper on several occasions.  United remained a threat going forward though, with the Liverpool defence nearly caught out more than once.  Then, after 37 minutes, Liverpool thought they had equalised, when Endo produced a nice finish from a Salah cutback, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up.

Liverpool were not to be denied though, as Alexis Mac Allister produced a lovely finish after being setup by Darwin Nunez, after Jarell Quansah went on a brilliant run from midfield, drifting past 2 United players and creating an overload on the right-hand side.  Then, as United were playing for half time, Liverpool turned the game on its head, as Gomez won the ball high up the pitch from Fernandes.  Gomez's cross eventually reached Nunez, whose shot was saved by Onana, but only into the path of Salah, who had a tap in from 6 yards.

The second half began quickly, with United winning an early corner before Nunez nearly squeezed in a third at the near post.  Both teams were attacking at every opportunity, with Liverpool looking particularly dangerous on the break, and one such break led to Bruno Fernandez fouling Szoboszlai on the edge of the United area, with the Portuguese midfielder lucky to escape a second yellow. Minutes later Nunez stung the palms of Onana with a fierce shot from a tight angle after the striker had sold Varane down the river.

Liverpool were now in total control, but couldn't find a third goal to kill the game, squandering a 5-on-2 break with just 1o minutes left.  And Liverpool were made to rue those missed chances as substitute Anthony scored only his second goal of the season, to send the game into extra time.

Then, at the end of the first half of extra-time, Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool's lead with a 20-yard strike, though it took a big deflection off of Erikson.  However, Marcus Rashford brought United level once again after Nunez gave the ball away in his own half.  Then, with time up, United broke from a corner and Diallo scored in the far corner, to send Liverpool crashing out - the masters of their own downfall....

Manchester United vs Liverpool match stats

Possession
Manchester United - 42% - 58% Liverpool

Total Shots
Manchester United 28 - 25 Liverpool

Shots on Target
Manchester United 11 - 11 Liverpool

Corners
Manchester United 5 - 8 Liverpool

Fouls
Manchester United 11 - 12 Liverpool

Man of the Match

Alexis Mac Allister - 8/10 - Liverpool's best player once again.

What's Next

Liverpool's players now head off on international duty, with the Red's next game not until the 31st of March, when Brighton visit Anfield in the Premier League.

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