Liverpool FC crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday following a 3-2 loss pelted out to Jurgen Klopp’s men by arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Merseysiders took the lead through Mohammad Salah’s sublime opening strike before the hosts pulled two goals back to take a commanding position and Salah had to be called up again to level the scoreline.
Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick conversion late on in the game proved to be the deciding factor in the second meeting between the two Premier League giants within a week following the goalless stalemate earlier at Anfield and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side clinched a much-vital win over Jurgen Klopp’s under-fire Liverpool FC.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Both teams got the game started on equal footing but it was the hosts who sought to cause trouble in the opposition box when Mason Greenwood went cruising past the Reds backline to draw a crucial save from Alisson Becker.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s men were duly rewarded for their unrivalled control on the tempo of the Old Trafford showdown in the 18th minute and a brilliant setup provided for Salah by Firmino was followed up by a brilliant execution of a dink over Manchester United goalie Dean Henderson by the Egyptian international.
The Reds were given additional chances to increase their lead in the minutes following Salah’s strike but Henderson stood tall to defy Curtis Jones’ ambitious effort on goal before Klopp’s men were hit with an equaliser.
Marcus Rashford’s switch of play from one flank to another found Greenwood running behind the Liverpool FC defence and the forward’s first touch was critical towards him slotting the ball past Alisson as both teams went into half time at 1-1.
Three minutes into the second half, the scorer Greenwood now turned provider for Rashford, with the former’s delivery being misjudged horribly by Rhys Williams, allowing Rashford to pounce upon the ball and get the better of Alisson in the Liverpool FC goal.
Liverpool FC got back into the game through Salah following a free-kick awarded to the visitors sparking the build-up to the second goal for Klopp’s men.
The Egyptian’s effort on goal for a hat-trick was denied by Henderson as the game looked all set to go into extra time but Solskjaer’s decision to bring on Bruno Fernandes off the bench spelt out a chance in plans for Liverpool FC.
Fabinho’s challenge on Edinson Cavani on the edge of the Reds penalty box meant that Fernandes had a brilliant chance to seal the match in his side’s favour should he find the back of the net through the resulting free-kick.
And the forming Sporting man did not disappoint, with his strike rifling into the bottom right corner, landing the final blow to Liverpool FC’s chances of progressing further into the FA Cup.
