A tame encounter between North-West rivals Liverpool and Manchester United ended in a 1-0 win for the visiting side United, at Anfield on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
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“We started 2016 very good with a lot of wins and I think this game will give a big boost to the players and the fans, and everyone in the environment of Manchester United”, said Van Gaal.
“We had a lot of these situations in the first half and the second half, so we had our chances but we could have had more if we would have done this better”.
Pressed on his side’s lack of goals – Liverpool have just 25 in 22 league games this season – Klopp said: “We have to work with what we have”.
Meanwhile, Rooney was delighted to score the winning goal, taking his United tally in the Premier League to 176 – more than any player has managed for one club.
The match improved a little as a spectacle after the break with De Gea making two important second half saves from Roberto Firmino and Emre Can to keep his side in the game before Rooney struck.
United came out for the second half fired up after their row and Rooney nicked the victor with a well-taken volley. We stayed strong, scored a goal and, at the end, we were very happy to finish with the win.
They may be England’s two most decorated clubs, but Liverpool and United are not this season’s leading contenders and a scrappy, shapeless first half reflected both clubs’ recent difficulties.
“If United were to talk about their performance, they would say it’s not that good but they won so they are really happy”.
The Red Devils’ fans may be dreaming big after that win, but a more pressing priority for them right now is to get back into the top four Champions League qualification spots.
“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. “I don’t think it is a very bad injury”. “We have done better than years before at this ground and showed we can fight even when we miss certain players”. “Creating chances was good, but our finishing was not”.
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The ousted Reds boss, who was replaced by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, acknowledged that his opposite number van Gaal has had it tough at Old Trafford, with widespread criticism over United’s style of play and lack of goals.
