An FA Cup Classic: Man United vs. Liverpool

Just this Sunday we have seen arguably the most entertaining football game of the season so far in English football which saw the fierce rivals Manchester United and Liverpool go head to head in the quarter finals of the prestigious FA Cup at Old Trafford. With Liverpool coming in as the favourites, following their success in the league that leaves them 2nd in the Premier League behind Arsenal, only on goal difference, many expected them to have already booked their place in the Semi Finals of the cup at Wembley. However, for United, a win would mean that any chances of lifting silverware at the end of the season was still on the cards.

In the early stages of the game, United started strong creating a plethora of chances and playing a high tempo of football, with the electrifying atmosphere of Old Trafford behind them. It seemed almost inevitable that United would take one of their chances to take the lead. In the 10th minute, following a good effort from Alejandro Garnacho which was met well by Liverpool keeper Kelleher, but saw the ball bundle up in the air for a zealous Scott McTominay to tap it home for the Red Devils. United didn’t stop their and chances were still being made, but no being put away, something United would later regret.

Heading towards the latter stages of the first half, we saw United still on top, with Liverpool only creating a few chances. However, in the 44th minute, Liverpool got that all important equaliser. Following some intricate and incisive passes, the ball was eventually cut back to Alexis MacAllister, who fired the ball towards the near post of Onana’s goal. The ball took a deflection off of the studs of youngster Kobbie Mainoo, and despite Onana getting a hand to it, forced its way into the back of the net. 

Liverpool had suddenly sprung into life, pressing high up the pitch, something that we hadn’t seen in a while during the game, but something which Jurgen Klopp’s side are typically so devastating at. In added time, United try to play out from the back, Bruno Fernandes gets dispossessed by Joe Gomez high up the pitch, and following a sequence of passes the ball fell for Darwin Nunez who struck the ball ferociously towards Onana’s goal. The United goalkeeper got a strong hand to the shot, however it was parried away into the path of Mohammed Salah who had a simple tap-in to put Liverpool ahead before the break.

Uniteds’ efforts undone within the matter of minutes.

The players returned for the second half, and Old Trafford demanded a response of intent following the emphatic turnaround conjured by Liverpool. 

Initially, this response didn’t seem to come at all with Liverpool controlling the flow of the game for large amounts of the half, with neither team creating any real chances, but Liverpool in confidence, maintained control over the ball. 

United needed a spark of inspiration from somewhere, a change was desperately needed to keep them in the game, someone needed to rise to the occasion. Ultimately, ten Hag looked at his United bench, and decided to bring on Maguire, Eriksen, Antony, and Diallo. The conclusion of the game was fast approaching, but the substitutions brought life and belief back into the team as well as the supporters. In the 87th minute, Antony received the ball in the box, used his agility to spin his body and strike the ball with his weaker right foot, past the diving Kelleher, and United had equalised. Old Trafford was on its feat with a sense of heightened relief. United looked like a different team.

Within added time of the second half, Uniteds’ persistence did not let up as they were fighting tooth and nail to try and wrap the tie up in normal time. In the last moments of the game, Eriksen collected the ball in Liverpool’a half and played an incisive lobbed pass over the Liverpool defence that was met by Manchester born and bred, Marcus Rashford who took a great first touch and attempted to place the ball in the far corner, and missing narrowly. That would have won the game, as the final whistle blew which meant that supporters were going to be a treated to another 30 minutes of enthralling football.

United picked up where they left off and were fighting for the ball and creating chances. However Liverpool had picked up the ball on the counter attack. Harvey Elliott was driving forward and took a long range effort with a lot of power within his shot. The shot was deflected and nestled into the far corner of the United goal. Liverpool’s lead restored, Klopp ecstatic, Liverpool fans euphoric. 

Liverpool leaded at half time of extra time by 3 goals to 2.

United knew how important this game was, ten Hag knew that he needed to motivate his players, and appeared that he had done his job well as United were on the front foot. Pressing high up the pitch were United, and Diallo having dispossessed Darwin Nunez passed the ball into Scott McTominay. McTominay played a weighted pass into the path of Rashford, who was looking to make up for his earlier missed opportunity. Rashford tucked the ball away with ease and United drew level and and Old Trafford appeared to see a United win on the horizon. 

In the dying embers of the game, Liverpool had won themselves a corner, committing many men forward to try and win the game. The ball was swing in and eventually cleared away into the path of Elliott, who was tackled well by Diallo, and a dangerous counter attack appeared to form. Garnacho and Diallo running forwards towards the Stratford End, with only Conor Bradley and the keeper to beat. Garnacho took the ball forward and played in Diallo for a great chance to put United ahead. The Ivory Coast international took the ball in his path and dragged the ball with his left foot across goal and scored tremendously. United ahead. Limbs at Old Trafford. Red card for Diallo after taking his shirt off in ecstasy and jubilation. Surely the game was won. 

The ref blew his whistle to mark the end of the game.