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Manchester United met Liverpool again and this time it is in the F.A Cup. They met earlier in the league and they played out a dab 0-0.
United started brightly this time around and was all over Liverpool. The intent has been signalled from the get-go that it would be an entertaining encounter.
Shaw dispossessed Salah in the 3rd minute and found Rashford who tried to squeeze his way through but couldn't until the threat was neutralized.
United has been known to always start their games slower, especially when playing from home but on this day, they gathered momentum quickly even though they struggled to get into the groove of things quickly.
In the 10th minute, Mason Greenwood wasted a brilliant change much to the annoyance of Edison Cavani who expected him to cut inside and lay the pass rather than waste the change by shooting. His attempt didn't even threaten the goalkeeper as it went straight for the side netting.
Liverpool had to hit back almost immediately and the attempt could only flash across the front of the post but was comfortably cleared. Greenwood wasted another chance just as the previous one after Cavani brilliantly chased down the ball. Instead of a cutback, he wasted it again and Cavani couldn't hide his disappointment yet again. I think he was trying to attack Liverpool earlier and in another way trying to do so much to stake his claim for a first-team spot and as the match progressed, he did just that.
In the 18th minute, Pogba miskicked from Shaw's corner and just a minute after that, Salah scored an easy goal with a defence-splitting pass from Firmino. He gathered the pass and he scored with class after looping the ball above the onrushing Dean Henderson. Game on, 0-1.
Liverpool had a freekick at the edge of the box, just where Alexander Arnold would want it but be blasted it over but United wasn't behind for too long when an exquisite and brilliant ball from Rashford found Mason Greenwood who put the horror of his earlier misses behind him in the 26th minute and he struck a low drive shot after he expertly chested it down. That's his first goal against Liverpool, especially at home and it was an important one.
Just two minutes after, Rashford broke through and found Van De Beek who tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper in a tight place but couldn't. Both teams were attacking with precision and determination.
Thiago fouled Rashford in the 34th minute and the freekick was headed clear by Williams. The resulting corner was taken by Shaw but Pogba connected with it only to head it over. Three minutes after, another free-kick had the same fate and this time around it was Scott McTominay who headed over.
Liverpool had a corner kick of their own but it was initially cleared only to find James Milner who fired wide. Greenwood drew a foul from Fabinho at the edge of the box and Pogba stepped up to take it but his effort went agonizingly wide.
United had wonderful moments in the 44th minute and if not for the brilliance if Thiago who saved with other shots blocked, United would have gone into half time with the lead. And United pressed for the win before half time when Rashford was brilliantly found by Cavani. Rashford skipped past the challenge that came with class and found Greenwood, who in turn found Pogba. Pogba's attempt was a curling effort that went just marginally wide.
The whistle went and half time score stayed at 1-1.
The second half had barely started when United took the lead in a wonderful fashion. Rashford definitely turned the game around from trailing to taking the lead. A long ball from Greenwood found him as Greenwood returned the favour for the first goal. Rashford collected the pass and coolly slotted past Allison. It was a brilliant goal and duly deserved. 2-1
Liverpool took charge thereafter as United dropped momentum a little bit with so many misplaced passes and it proved costly when Salah restored parity, 2-2. That was 2 goals for Salah and 2 goals for Liverpool. United players were caught napping as a poor pass from Cavani was latched unto and the attack came. Milner did brilliantly well to run over Firmino's pass in the box. He left it for Salah who made no mistake than to put it in between the legs of Henderson.
Mane was introduced in the 62nd minute with the hope of getting the winner and United made a double substitution with Fred coming in for Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes coming in for Van De Beek.
Salah was denied his Patrick in the 67th minute when he could only produce a weak finish. His shot let him down and Henderson saved it.
United came back into the game and had a series of chances. Pogba drove into the box, cut into the box and tried a cross that was saved in the 74th minute while Salah had another tame shot just a minute after.
The turning point of the game came when Cavani was fouled at the edge of the box in the 76th minute after a lovely pass from Fred. Substitute; Bruno Fernandes took it and scored with such accuracy. This is the kind of goal that is deserving of a winner and rightly so. 3-2 it was.
In the 80th minute, Rashford had his half volley saved comfortably. And in the 88th minute, Fernandes found Cavani with a cross and it was a great header that was saved by the base of the post. It would have been a wonderful moment for Cavani to score his first goal at Old Trafford.
Liverpool tried to rally round and get a draw at least and pressured the defence line in the 93rd minute but nothing came from it, with the free-kick and another volley by Salah that went wide.
It was a match that lived up to its billing unlike the dab 0-0 that was played in the League. United would be playing West Ham at home in the 5th round of the F.A Cup tie.
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