Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (agg 1-3): Philippe Coutinho scores exquisite chip as Reds reach Europa League quarter-finals
Liverpool defeated fierce Premier League rivals Manchester United to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League
The Red Devils took the lead through Anthony Martial who scored from the spot following Nathaniel Clyne's foul
However, Jurgen Klopp's side scored a vital away goal just before half-time courtesy of Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian playmaker produced an exquisite chip to lob Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea
By MARTIN SAMUEL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
ents
Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp, are now five decent performances away from next season’s Champions League. Manchester United, meanwhile, are as far away as they have ever been from whatever it is they are hoping to achieve under Louis Van Gaal.
Last month, Van Gaal rated winning the Europa League as United’s best chance of making Europe’s blue riband tournament next season. Even Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer sure of a top four finish in the Premier League. Now, the Europa League safety net has gone, and defeat in the derby at Manchester City on Sunday could be fatal to United’s loftiest ambitions. It wasn’t that they were bad here – just too late.
A European tie is a 180 minute commitment, and United only started playing after half-time – the initial 90 minutes. The first leg at Anfield was a write-off. By the time United took the game to Liverpool they were trailing 2-0 on aggregate and a single away goal at Old Trafford would as good end the tie. Philippe Coutinho got it after 45 minutes and that was United done. They were tasked with scoring three in the second-half to progress and this is not a team set-up for that kind of rapid action – not against a good team, at least. Liverpool are not Midtjylland and, unsurprisingly, the score did not change from that point. The embarrassed scuttle for the exits had begun long before the end.
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Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho scored a vital away goal with an exquisite scoop of the ball over goalkeeper David de Gea
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De Gea's attempt to close down the angle did not work as Coutinho expertly chipped the ball between the goalkeeper and near post
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Manchester United stopper De Gea is off balance and looks back as he realises Coutinho has beaten him with a cheeky chip
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A delighted Coutinho puts out his tongue in celebration and is congratulated by fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino in front of the home fans
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp points and clenches his fist in the direction of the travelling support following his side's equaliser
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Coutinho points to the skies and is joined by his team-mates after his extraordinary piece of skill levelled the scores at Old Trafford
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De Gea and Daley Blind look dejected knowing Liverpool's leveller meant United needed to score three goals without reply to progress
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Liverpool supporters let off a red flare in the away end shortly after Coutinho levelled the scores to give the visitors the advantage
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Manchester United forward Anthony Martial fired his side ahead from the penalty spot against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Thursday
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Martial scoops the ball up for a quick restart as beaten Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet looks on during Thursday's second leg clash
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Goalscorer Martial races back to the centre circle with Jesse Lingard (third left), Juan Mata (third right) and Michael Carrick (second right)
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The Red Devils were awarded a first-half penalty after Martial was adjudged to have been brought down by Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne
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Substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger shows his dejection at the full-time whistle as Manchester United were dumped out by Liverpool
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MATCH FACTS
Manchester United: De Gea, 6, Varela, 6 (Valencia, 46, 6), Smalling, 7, Blind, 5.5, Rojo, 7 (Darmian, 62, 6), Carrick, 6 (Schweinsteiger, 70 6), Fellaini, 5, Mata, 6.5, Martial, 7, Rashford, 6.5
Subs not used: Romero, Depay, Schneiderlin, Williams.
Scorer: Martial, 31.
Booked: Fellaini, Blind, Schweinsteiger.
Manager: Louis van Gaal, 6.5
Liverpool: Mignolet, 6.5, Clyne, 5, Lovren, 6.5, Skaho, 7, Milner, 6, Can 7, Henderson, 6 (Allen, 71, 6), Lallana, 5, Firmino, 6 (Benteke, 85), Coutinho, 8, Sturridge 6.5 (Origi, 68, 6.5)
Subs not used: Ward, Toure, Ibe, Smith.
Scorer: Coutinho, 44.
Booked: Clyne, Coutinho, Firmino.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp, 7
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia), 6.5
Credit to Liverpool, though, for their application over two legs and a useful draw here. This was an opportunity to make the first big statement of the Klopp regime against their bitterest rivals, and they took it. Who knows when these teams will play in Europe again? The first meeting has ended in a 3-1 Liverpool win, Manchester United may have to live with that for decades. It will not boost the case of those who wish to give Van Gaal a third season at Old Trafford. He would have been expected to have placed this club a considerable distance ahead of Liverpool by now.
Instead it is Klopp’s regime that is in the ascendancy. They outplayed United at Anfield, and outfoxed them here through the marvellous Coutinho. It was a big result for Liverpool, a big defeat for Van Gaal. Yes, a draw on the night, but it felt like a loss – not least because United failed in their main objective. United were nowhere near as poor as they had been a week ago, but keeping a clean sheet was essential and for all Van Gaal’s pragmatism, they could not do it. Liverpool simply had too much for them: too much energy, too much intensity, and in Coutinho too much quality in front of goal. Left one on one with De Gea, he beat him with a Lionel Messi-like chip. There are good teams in this competition, still, but with a player of his quality in the ranks, Liverpool have a puncher’s chance against any of them – even Klopp’s old Borussia Dortmund.
United had good possession as always chasing the game, but Liverpool were comfortable – even with a makeshift defence, James Milner performing impressively in an unfamiliar detail at left-back. If anything, De Gea made the save of the second half, from another shot by Coutinho. The rousing, positive emotion around Old Trafford gradually faded, bitter taunts about the Hillsborough tragedy rose in the throats of those whose reaction to losing is to lash out in all directions, and there were smoke bombs, seats thrown from the Liverpool end, and a fight in the upper tier. It was an unsavoury conclusion on any number of levels. UEFA may wish to get involved, too.
The bottom line for United, however, is that this tie was lost seven days ago. If United had played with half the vigour at Anfield that they did on Thursday night, they would not have been in a position where an away goal could do for them, as it did here. Indeed, their first-half performance was so different to Anfield that it made Van Gaal’s methods close to unfathomable. What is ‘his’ United? Is it the turgid plodders of a week ago, or the vibrant, ambitious group that took the game to Liverpool and were, at times, hard to control. When are they disobeying his instructions – when they play like this, or when they play like that? The identities are so conflicting.
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Man United youngster Marcus Rashford was quick out the blocks and on the attack in the first minute but was stopped by Mamadou Sakho
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Marouane Fellaini looks to gather control of the ball in the air under pressure from Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson early on
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Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana evades the challenge of Jesse Lingard (right) and dances through the Manchester United midfield
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Reds striker Daniel Sturridge climbs above Manchester United defender Daley Blind to win possession in the air on Thursday evening
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Man United captain Michael Carrick plays a sideways pass as the home side looked to settle quickly in search of an important goal
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