Manchester United 3 Liverpool 1
Scorers: Blind 48, Herrera 70pen, Martial 86; Benteke 84 | 12 September 2015 | Old Trafford | Att: 75,347
Manchester
United earned another victory to savour against Liverpool with Anthony
Martial scoring on a dream debut to ensure a 3-1 triumph at Old
Trafford.
The visitors looked to have set up a nervous
finale when Christian Benteke's spectacular strike replied to earlier
goals by Daley Blind and Ander Herrera. However, Martial took centre
stage by announcing his arrival with a superb solo third.
David De
Gea made his return in goal but was a bystander for much of the first
half as United dominated possession but, without injured skipper Wayne
Rooney, failed to test Simon Mignolet.
The visiting keeper still
looked edgy with Juan Mata intercepting an early clearance and
presenting a great chance to lone striker Marouane Fellaini, who lifted
it well off target. Unfortunately, that proved to be the only opening of
the half with the Merseysiders content to hold United at bay.
Nathaniel
Clyne mustered a rare attempt from long range on 19 minutes and a
Memphis Depay cross was diverted behind Mignolet's goal but there was
little in the way of genuine excitement. For all the Reds' dominance of
the play, there was a sigh of relief when Benteke broke clear on goal
and the offside flag was raised, even if the striker screwed his finish
wide in any case.
HALF-TIME STATISTICS Possession: United 61% Liverpool 39%
Shots: United 2 Liverpool 1
Shots on target: United 0 Liverpool 0
Corners: United 3 Liverpool 0
As
in the last game at Swansea City, the Reds started the second period
with a goal. Half-time substitute Ashley Young, on for Memphis, was
fouled by Clyne on the edge of the box and Mata rolled the free-kick to
an unmarked Blind. The Dutch defender directed an unerring finish into
the top corner of the net with Mignolet well beaten.
The crowd
erupted and the players responded with a spell of concerted pressure but
Bastian Schweinsteiger was unable to control the ball when in a
dangerous position. Back came Liverpool and De Gea's poor clearance
eventually led to a Roberto Firmino cross that was well cleared by Chris
Smalling. De Gea made a superb stop when clawing away a Danny Ings
effort at the far post, following great chest control by the ex-Burnley
striker, and, after Young sent a free-kick over the bar, Blind had to
clear off the line when Martin Skrtel's header bounced goalwards off
Firmino.
Martial was introduced for his debut in place of Mata and
the hosts soon went further ahead when Michael Carrick's astute pass
fed Herrera inside the box. The no.21 was felled by a reckless sliding
tackle by Joe Gomez and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot. With
his friend Mata off the pitch, up stepped Herrera to smash the ball
past Mignolet.
Benteke headed over as Brendan Rodgers' men tried
to find a route back into the match and substitute Jordon Ibe worked his
way past Shaw only to find a diving De Gea equal to his powerful drive.
It did not stop Liverpool pulling one back as Benteke launched into an
acrobatic volley that ensured he scored in his third successive match
against United following his exploits with Aston Villa.
Thankfully,
any tension was soon lifted by the majestic Martial who danced through
the Liverpool defence and planted the calmest of finishes wide of
Mignolet to spark wild celebrations in front of the adoring Stretford
End. It was a moment of sheer genius and promises much for the future,
instantly affording him hero status with the fans.
The manager
left the field to the cries of "Louis van Gaal's red-and-white army" at
the end after a day to remember at the Theatre of Dreams.
FULL-TIME STATISTICS Possession: United 56% Liverpool 44%
Shots: United 9 Liverpool 8
Shots on target: United 3 Liverpool 4
Corners: United 4 Liverpool 4
United: De
Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Carrick (Schneiderlin 71),
Schweinsteiger; Mata (Martial 65), Herrera, Memphis (Young 46);
Fellaini. Substitutes: Romero, McNair, Rojo, Valencia.
Booked: Darmian.
Liverpool: Mignolet;
Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Can, Lucas (Moreno 87), Milner; Ings
(Origi 74), Benteke, Firmino (Ibe 65). Substitutes: Bogdan, Toure,
Sakho, Rossiter.
Booked: Clyne, Milner.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Louis van Gaal: "We
controlled the match until the first goal, and after that we brought
Liverpool again into a match. But we have scored wonderful goals and
then the entrance of our player, Anthony Martial, only 19 years old, and
he scored with his second or third touch and the way he did it was
fantastic."
Brendan Rodgers: "We were back in the
game at 2-1 and looking like we could get maybe get something but we
then conceded within a minute or so, and so the game is dead. There was
plenty of effort and plenty of commitment but we need to be better with
the ball."
MAN OF THE MATCH VOTE
Daley Blind 58%, Anthony Martial 29%, Ashley Young 13%.
