Man United 2-1 Liverpool
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s still very early in the season but this match already feels like a crucial game for both sides.
Man United’s start under Erik ten Hag could hardly have been worse amid deserved defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
Liverpool have also had a frustrating start as they are still looking for their first win, after dropping points against both Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Given that they have been the far better of the two in recent times, the Anfield club will be strong favourites, but United delivering a much-improved performance and getting something out of this game is not inconceivable.
Confirmation of the two teams below…
📋 Erik's named our line-up to face Liverpool.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 22, 2022
Come on, United! 🔴⚪️⚫️#MUFC || #MUNLIV
Here’s how we line up for #MUNLIV at Old Trafford tonight 👊⚪
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 22, 2022
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Cristiano Ronaldo gatecrashes #MNF whilst Roy Keane is talking about him 👀 pic.twitter.com/FIxOX0YRS8
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 22, 2022
17% - Since the start of last season, Manchester United have won just 17% of their Premier League games without Cristiano Ronaldo starting (2/12), compared to winning 50% when he has been named in the starting XI (14/28). Foreboding. pic.twitter.com/uP78GmbRy0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 22, 2022
We’re underway…
It’s been a fairly scrappy opening.
Liverpool are on top in terms of possession and territory but have been giving it away cheaply.
As I type, Rashford runs through on goal but Van Dijk does well to get back and make a good recovery tackle.
James Milner goes down in the box under a challenge from Varane as the ball goes out of play.
The appeals for a penalty are half-hearted though and it would have been soft judging by replays.
As I type, Rashford gets the better of Alexander-Arnold and wins a free kick on the edge of the area.
Eriksen’s subsequent set piece hits the top of the wall and deflects out for a corner.
So close for the hosts!
McTominay plays an incisive through pass, Fernandes then wins a tackle so the ball falls to Elanga, whose finish hits the post.
It’s a bad miss at this level.
Liverpool are looking sluggish right now while United are showing signs of life.
MAN UNITED 1-0 LIVERPOOL (SANCHO 16)
Alexander-Arnold is struggling down the right and he was exposed in that instance.
Eriksen and Rashford play a lovely one-two before the latter crosses for Sancho.
The England international then shows good composure, taking his time to have a touch before side-footing into the corner.
United have been the better side and deserve their lead.
Diaz has just registered Liverpool’s first shot after a mazy run but it goes wide.
Milner and Van Dijk were having a big argument after the United goal, which indicates how disjointed the Reds’ performance has been.
Alexander-Arnold has been booked for taking down Elanga as he sprints towards goal.
United are clearly targeting Liverpool’s right-hand side having identified it as a weak spot.
Eriksen’s subsequent free kick is tipped over by Alisson.
This is your home, @Casemiro 😍#MUFC pic.twitter.com/MSfdt5rGRv
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 22, 2022
Alexander-Arnold crosses for Henderson, who can’t quite get a hold of the volley from the edge of the area and his effort is off target.
Liverpool have been better in recent minutes.
The game has calmed down a bit in the last few minutes after a frantic start.
Neither side are really threatening at the moment.
An Alexander-Arnold cross falls to Elliot, but his shot is blocked.
Liverpool are looking more dominant now with United happy to sit back and play on the counter.
Here’s a look at that opening goal…
That composure 🤤
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2022
Calm as you like from Jadon Sancho and Manchester United lead at Old Trafford! 💥 pic.twitter.com/7ZkB2jf1FO
Martinez makes a good last-ditch block to prevent Salah getting a shot on target.
The subsequent corner is met my Milner’s head.
It then bounces to Fernandes who smashes it wildly but Martinez is in the right place to prevent it from crossing the line.
Dalot has just been booked for a rash challenge on Diaz.
One minute of stoppage time will be played.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 LIVERPOOL
So half-time and United have delivered comfortably their best 45 minutes since Erik ten Hag’s arrival.
Liverpool struggled to deal with their opponents’ intensity early on and when Sancho’s goal came, it felt deserved.
The visitors have come into it more since then and have had a few decent chances, but the Red Devils have been rewarded for the diligence and defensive organisation they’ve shown, which has been in stark contrast to their opening two games.
However, the hosts have increasingly sat back and invited pressure on, so it will be interesting to see whether they can withstand the inevitable Liverpool rally in the second half.
The second half has begun…
Man United made a tactical change at half-time with Martial replacing Elanga.
It means Rashford will move wide to accommodate the Frenchman.
Perhaps Ten Hag was concerned at Liverpool’s increasing dominance towards the end of the first half.
Alexander Arnold’s corner picks out Salah on the edge of the area, but the Egyptian blazes his volley well over to the delight of the home crowd.
Liverpool are looking short on inspiration at the moment.
MAN UNITED 2-0 LIVERPOOL (RASHFORD 53)
United double their advantage with Rashford’s first Premier League goal since January.
Martial slips through his fellow attacker who marginally beats the offside trap before finishing coolly.
Rashford nearly scores again moments after finding the net, but Alisson gets down well to make the save.
United are sharp and full of energy, while Liverpool look completely out of sorts.
Liverpool make a change, with a not 100% fit Fabinho replacing Henderson.
The Reds have been poor in midfield this evening, with both Milner and Henderson looking their age at times.
Here’s how the second goal looked…
IT'S TWO! 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2022
Marcus Rashford finishes off a clinical Manchester United counter-attack after a VAR check deems him onside! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/1CecemhHZd
Fabinho meets Alexander Arnold’s corner, but De Gea saves his header relatively comfortably.
Liverpool will be disappointed that have rarely really tested the Spanish goalkeeper this evening.
United make another change as they look to see out this game.
It’s a defensive substitution with Sancho replaced by Fred.
Now, Liverpool make a change.
Milner, who has struggled at times, is replaced by Carvalho.
Fernandes has impressed tonight but he’s just foolishly got himself booked with a blatant dive in the area.
Liverpool don’t look like mounting a late rescue act at the moment.
Rashford has looked like a man transformed tonight.
He beats a couple of players before shooting just over.
Liverpool are pressing for a goal now in the faint hopes of salvaging a point.
Robertson finds himself in a promising position but his cross is overhit.
Moments later, the Scottish full-back is involved again as Firmino gets a touch on his cross, but De Gea is alert to turn it behind.
MAN UNITED 2-1 LIVERPOOL (SALAH 82)
A lifeline for Liverpool.
From a corner, Carvalho’s shot is saved, but Salah is on hand to convert the rebound.
We’re in for a very interesting final 10 minutes now.
More changes now.
For Liverpool, Robertson is replaced by Tsmikas.
And for United, Ronaldo, Wan Bissaka and Van De Beek replace Eriksen, Dalot and Rashford.
Here’s a look at Salah’s goal…
GAME ON!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2022
Salah heads home and what a last ten minutes we are in for! 👀 pic.twitter.com/R6HypPBgKd
There will be five minutes of stoppage time…
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 2-1 LIVERPOOL
So that’s that.
Not many people were predicting a Man United win tonight, but there was a clear reaction to the Brentford humiliation, with Ten Hag’s big pre-match calls in dropping Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire paying dividends.
They were helped by the fact that Liverpool were clearly out of sorts, as they finally suffered a first league defeat of 2022.
Alexander-Arnold was exposed on a couple of occasions on the right, while the midfield of Jordan Henderson and James Milner struggled to gain a foothold on proceedings.
Man United impressed with their energy in the opening stages, while they were solid at the back and showed the type of speed and efficiency on the counter-attack that was reminiscent of the best days of the Solskjaer era.
And incredibly, given all the talk of a crisis at Old Trafford, the Red Devils now find themselves ahead of their rivals in the table.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow on the site.
Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting.
