Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Thursday’s blockbuster Europa League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United.
Advertisement
Liverpool vs Manchester United.
Former United players Andrew Cole, Gary Pallister and Dennis Irwin were also in the away end.
Daniel Sturridge scored from the spot in the 20th minute after a foul by Memphis Depay, whilst United buckled under more second half pressure – with Firmino grabbing yet another goal in a purple patch for the Brazilian.
Philippe Coutinho should have doubled Liverpool’s lead four minutes later when Sturridge’s ball across goal fell to him.
It gave United a bit more possession and composure but they still created little and it still took tow more saves by De Gea from thunderous drives by from coutinho and Clyne to keep the score down.
The Red Devils are bracing themselves for two mouth-watering legs against bitter rivals Liverpool in UEFA’s sister competition, with the first leg taking place at Anfield on Thursday.
But United’s early second-half verve had all but vanished by the time Carrick botched a clearance from Henderson’s cross, sending the ball into Lallana’s path.
But he said that he had not seen a late incident in which United midfielder Marouane Fellaini appeared to catch Emre Can in the face with his elbow.
Both of these teams will struggle to secure Champions League football via their domestic position, but winning the Europa League provides automatic qualification to next season’s group stages.
A day of rain in Bilbao had put the game in doubt but, after treatment by ground staff before kick-off, referee Bjorn Kuipers deemed the pitch playable and Valencia went took to the field with nine changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Atletico Madrid in their previous game. Now, they haven’t got that presence, that fear factor. Also, Klopp tasted victory for the first time in one of the greatest rivalries in world soccer and the image at the top of this page sums up his emotions perfectly.
At 2-0, United are at a huge disadvantage ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford next week but, if there’s one positive for van Gaal’s side, it’s that they didn’t lose by five or six.
“Van Gaal’s team might be miles off but if he can win a competition then it makes things interesting”.
Not for the first time this season, Louis Van Gaal’s side looked toothless in attack and failed to seriously test Simon Mignolet in the entirety of the game.
Liverpool did everything their supporters could have wanted and if it was not for De Gea’s goalkeeping they would surely have won more convincingly.
Advertisement
In the first-ever European meeting between two sides who share eight European Cups between them, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool hold the advantage after outrunning and outfighting an off-form United in the first leg.
