Louis van Gaal’s side were second best for the majority of the contest at Anfield but stole all three points courtesy of Rooney’s 78th-minute victor, which came with their only shot on target all game.
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Rooney grabbed his fifth goal in four games since the turn of the year, rifling home a volley from close range after Marouane Fellaini’s header rebounded off the bar to settle a poor-quality game between English football’s two most successful clubs.
London, Jan.19: Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal can guide his side to the Premier League title. “Today it was important because our competitors lost points and when the gap is like this we can overturn that”.
Rooney took his league tally for United to 176 a record by one player for one club in the Premier League era.
De Gea thwarted a number of Liverpool efforts in the second half, underscoring his importance to a United side that has often flattered to deceive this season. “We have seen that but we can do it because we show every week we can do it”.
“The way that we played and the chances that we had (against Manchester United) we need to be winning the game but we never did”.
“But we didn’t give so much away in the second half, so I am a happy coach”.
Rooney may not have had the opportunity to be the match victor if it were not for De Gea, though, with the Spain goalkeeper making fine saves from Adam Lallana and Emre Can with the scores still level.
Liverpool tried to claw something back late on, as they would replace Kolo Toure with in form Benteke, but even the wonder striker himself couldn’t salvage any points for the team.
After scoring a dramatic goal at Anfield, Wayne Rooney told reporters he would cherish his winning goal against United’s bitter rivals. I don’t know who you would compare him with but we had no problem in this position. “They had one good finish and it finished 1-0”.
England team-mates Chris Smalling and Jesse Lingard also started for United, while Phil Jones and Michael Carrick sat among the travelling supporters at Anfield.
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“I am sure teams will look at that but we have to make sure we are fully concentrated and defending set-pieces well and stop conceding”, said Henderson.
