Manchester United edge Liverpool in FA Cup thriller as Amad Diallo strikes late | FA Cup

Erik ten Hag sparked his appointment as manager at the start of last season when he oversaw the Premier League’s 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. No one expected that to happen after losing the opening two games. It was like a fairy tale.

This season has deteriorated somewhat and has been fraught with difficulties, but here comes another victory against Liverpool that few expected. And as the club looked ahead to an FA Cup semi-final against Mark Robins’ Coventry at a frenzied Old Trafford, it felt like this result might save Ten Hag.

Where do I start? Perhaps it was in the last minute, in stoppage time, when substitute Amad Diallo ran onto a pass from the indefatigable Alejandro Garnacho on the counter. He couldn’t do it, could he? Amad was able to do that, leading a low finish into the far corner, at which point the fight was finally over.

Of course, there were further details. Amad took off his shirt to receive a second yellow card, but he didn’t seem to care about anyone. This is not Amado, who went down the tunnel with tremendous acclaim.

United led 2-1 after 90 minutes and it looked like it was over, but Anthony, more than anyone else, was Liverpool’s dominant force in the second half of regular time. season goals.

There would have been no need for an extra period if Marcus Rashford had not converted a clear-cut chance just before the end of regular time, but United came back from behind after Liverpool substitute Harvey Elliott made it 3-2 in the 105th minute. did.

It was Rashford who equalized in the second period of extra time, finishing calmly after Amad stole the ball and Scott McTominay played a final pass. With a penalty looming, the scene was set for Amad.

The result was disappointing for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, dashing Liverpool’s dreams of winning four trophies in his final season in charge, but it was significant for Ten Hag. was. United look unlikely to make it through the Champions League in the Premier League standings (on this evidence, who knows), but their season will have to be fought for another day. I’m planning to do the same thing after Ten Hug is over.

United meant business from the beginning. They had character, demanded the ball, and were epitomized by Koby Mainu, who showed composure and drive. There was intensity. And then there was the most tangible of all markers: an early goal.

The move was caused by Bruno Fernandes sending a quick free-kick to Rashford. United’s idea was to turn Liverpool around and push them back. But the chance really lay in the second phase. Garnacho made a deft run down the inside left and Rashford found him. Garnacho cut with his right foot and fired a shot, but Caoimhin Kelleher flicked the ball up and stayed on for McTominay to tap in.

It was a frenetic opening period in which both teams had some gaps. United’s best one was made for Rashford, who trained Kelleher with the curler. Liverpool followed up with Darwin Nunez’s excellent cross from the right, before it went past Diogo Dalot and Mohamed Salah volleyed just over the far post.

There was a moment shortly after McTominay’s opener when Andy Robertson had to dive into the blocks to deny Garnacho and United declared it 2-0. But Liverpool are a menace, they have never lost a game recently, and they will deliver a devastating one-two punch at the end of the first half.

Klopp’s side thought they had equalized in the 37th minute when Salah teed up Wataru Endo for a low finish. Salah was ruled fractionally offside. However, Liverpool received a break after Nunez was sacked in place of Alexis Mac Allister and his shot was deflected by Maynou to deceive Andre Onana. Jarrell Quansah started the move by striding away from Fernandes and then Rashford. Both United players had to work harder defensively.

When Liverpool pressed, Fernandes lost the ball to Joe Gomez on the right, giving Liverpool the lead. United’s captain wanted a foul, but there was no foul. He will be arrested for dissenting opinions. Gomez’s cross put United behind, but Victor Lindelof’s clear header found Luis Díaz, who found Nunez. He cut inside and fired a shot that Onana parried and Salah made a simple finish for his 13th goal in 14 games against United.

Ten Hag’s team had to move on from their regrets, even if it wasn’t easy. McTominay missed a relatively easy through ball to Rashford and let Rasmus Hjølund slip when he was in a good position. But the big chance lay with McTominay, set up by Mynu’s sparkling toe brilliance. McTominay fired straight at Kelleher. Liverpool could also convert Dias and Dominik Szoboszlai into a 1-0 chance. It was breathtaking.

Ten Hag were boosted by the availability of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Hojlund after injury. The manager started the former at left-back against Salah. Wan-Bissaka performed well defensively.

The venue was buzzing from the first whistle, with 9,000 Liverpool fans doing their part. This was the club’s highest allocation in modern times. United’s chances appeared to be gone as Liverpool took control at the second-half restart. Apart from Fernandes’ cross which almost hit Hoylund, it was Liverpool who had the ball and saved themselves from a tie. They also created chances.

Nunez was a threat to Lindelof and Raphael Varane. Liverpool’s centre-forward almost caught Onana at his near post, but he took another shot, rounding the other upright and beating Varane with a drop of his shoulder before beating the goalkeeper. Onana also had to save from Shoboshlai.

United’s starters looked on their feet in the final stages of normal play, especially when Liverpool beat them 5-2. Somehow they survived. Still, they found additional gear.

There was a long chance that Anthony would make a difference. And with the right foot – a sentence that almost requires an exclamation point. However, the winger showed some excellent touch in the 87th minute amid traffic jams in the area, receiving a touch after cutting in from Garnacho and caressing it into a low corner as he rotated.

There was more to come. more and more. Substitute Elliott hit a looping cross at the far post, but Liverpool were reeling and barely budged from the final kick in normal time. United looked to break through in a 3-2-4-1 formation and Rashford’s first touch was on target as another substitute, Christian Eriksen, played a perfect ball over the top. The less said about the second, the better. Rashford pushed his shot over the far corner and fell headfirst to the ground. All United fans are scratching their heads.

United had the upper hand in the first half of extra time, with Anthony looking dangerous and giving substitute Harry Maguire a half-chance when the ball fell to his left foot and he hit a half-volley. That would have been too much. Lindelof also hit a high shot into the side netting. All of this makes Elliott’s goal the dictionary definition of a terrible punch. Onana appeared to cover the midfielder’s shot, but was brought down by Eriksen’s deflection.

United are back again. Now it’s a classic, with both fans screaming at the top of their lungs. When Ten Hag brought on Mason Mount for Lindelof, he only had two defenders allowed on the pitch. His formation was difficult to categorize. Maguire fired straight at Kelleher and by that point it was becoming a tale of bad luck for United. Rashford and Amado had other ideas.