Rooney scored with 12 minutes left in play to get United a fourth consecutive victory. He was even dropped for the December 26 match against Stoke, but was recalled for the next match – against Chelsea at home two days later – and has scored in every game since then.
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Presiding over his first game against United, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp watched his team dominate, but Rooney punished their profligacy with his fifth goal in four games, a close range snapshot after Marouane Fellaini had hit the bar.
“I think we have the same injuries as before”, van Gaal said, as reported by manutd.com.
Van Gaal is having a torrid time as manager of Britain’s biggest club with the team knocked out of Europe, slipping to sixth place in the Premier League and accused by fans and former players of being “boring”.
Jamie Carragher felt that Liverpool were the better team after watching the Reds slump to a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Meanwhile Van Gaal shrugged off suggestions that the transfer embargo imposed on Real Madrid this week could affect the future of goalkeeper David De Gea.
Defender Matteo Darmian will hope for a more stable performance than his predecessor as he prepares to become the first Italian to represent United in a game at Anfield since inconsistent keeper Massimo Taibi in 1999. A loss could prove to be the final nail in the coffin on Louis Van Gaal’s Old Trafford reign.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Van Gaal set his sights on finishing the season top of the pile, dismissing the current gap between his side and those at the top.
“We signed (Anthony) Martial, who no one really knew much about, and he has done okay but, God forbid, if he gets injured or Wayne Rooney is out then United are struggling”.
“I think I was more disappointed than the fans”.
“To score the winning goal at Anfield, that’s a long time for me since my first year at United, so I’m going to be a bit selfish and enjoy that the most”.
Adam Lallana forced a save from De Gea before Roberto Firmino dragged the rebound wide, and James Milner fired off target after a brilliant Firmino crossfield pass.
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De Gea stepped up for United in the second half, though.
