Liverpool: Xherdan Shaqiri Scores Twice As Reds Power Past Man Utd At Anfield (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

16th, December 2018

4 Comments

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Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League after a thoroughly-deserved 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield.

Jose Mourinho left Paul Pogba on the bench and his side struggled to provide any attacking threat against a vibrant Liverpool side.

The hosts took the lead on 24 minutes, with Sadio Mané firing home after a superb pass from the impressive Fabinho.

However, just after the half-hour mark, United found themselves level after a howler from Alisson saw Jesse Lingard slot home.

The Reds were the better side throughout but found themselves stifled by United in the second-half.

Jurgen Klopp sent on Xherdan Shaqiri to change the game and the Swiss winger certainly did that, putting his side ahead from close-range on 73 minutes, courtesy of a deflection

Soon after, the Merseysiders sealed the deal, with Shaqiri again the goal-hero, this time scoring via another deflection, this time from Eric Bailly.

While Shaqiri proved to be the match-winner from the bench, Pogba remained an unused sub as he watched his side well beaten their rivals.

Indeed, Mourinho sent on Marouane Fellaini in the second-half, with the big Belgian taking his frustration out on a steward.

The game would end 3-1 to the home side, a win which sees them go back a point clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

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As for Mourinho and United, they now find themselves in sixth spot, 11 points off the top four and a whopping 19 points behind Liverpool.

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Posted in Liverpool, Man Utd, Photos, Videos

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4 Comments

  1. Rob says:

    Alisson…? Two horrendous mistakes leading to goals in the space of just 15 minutes (luckly for him, the first one was offside). I don’t understand why people even dare to compare him to the best goalkeepers in the world. He’s a good goalkeeper and that’s it, there’s absolutely nothing great about him, he’s just alright.

  2. Bruno says:

    I have a question for Pies. Do you think Manchester United would be in a better place now if Louis van Gaal was still there?

    I honestly don’t doubt it.

    • Chris Wright says:

      @Bruno: They probably would be, though the tedium was already on the verge of being toxic by the time he left.

      At the very least, you could see what Van Gaal was working towards: focused defensive solidity and nullifying opponents with masses of possession.

      It feels like Mourinho is sending the same team out with the same basic instructions every week and just hoping for the best.

      • Bruno says:

        I agree. But I think the big issue is that Woodward and his team are great at the commercial front but they can’t run the football side of things. For example, Mourinho’s contract was extended very prematurely, just a few weeks before they ended up 20 points below City. A decent football minded board would have thought, well, I just gave a new contract to my manager because I trust him and we are 20 points away from City, we obviously need to spend. But then they didn’t backed him when he asked for players and now they are going to back him in January just to sack him in May. It’s all wrong, manager, board, players… and no plan going forward.

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