Wow! In the 28 years since I first watched United at Old Trafford, I’ve never seen a game quite like that.
It was the stuff of fairy tales and film scripts, and even if United don’t go on to win the FA Cup, this game will be etched into our memories forever. When we went behind for the second time to yet another deflected Liverpool goal in extra time, it looked like we’d need a miracle to get through to the semis….but a miracle is pretty much what we got.
After Rashford’s coolly taken equaliser, Alejandro Garnacho’s lightning-fast counter and well-timed pass allowed Amad Diallo to slot the ball past the plunging Kelleher and just inside the post.
The goal sparked wild scenes all over Old Trafford and the noise was deafening. There have been big wins at home under Ten hag – particularly last season – but this felt bigger.
The game’s big incidents
With over 2 hours of football and 7 goals, there were a lot of incidents. This is how the game played out:
10′ GOAL – Scott McTominay crashes the ball home from close range after Garnacho’s shot is saved, and United take a deserved lead. 1-0
35′ McTominay fires an easy chance straight at goalkeeper Kelheller as Liverpool start to get on top
37′ DISALLOWED GOAL – Liverpool’s Endo has the ball in the net but it’s chalked off after VAR confirms the on-field decision
44′ GOAL – Liverpool equalise as Alexis Mac Allister sees his shot deflected in off the unfortunate Kobbie Mainoo. 1-1
45′ + 2 GOAL: – Not for the first time, United struggle to play the ball out from the back and Darwin Nunez’s shot is deflected into the path of Mo Salah, who fires into an empty net as Liverpool lead. 1-2
71′ Subs Antony and Maguire come on for Hojlund and Wan-Bissaka
85‘ Amad Diallo comes on for Rafael Varane
87‘ GOAL – Antony turns his man and fires a low, right-footed shot past the keeper. Yes, that’s not a typo – his right foot! 2-2
88′ Harvey Elliott hits the post
90+4 Marcus Rashford misses a huge chance to win the tie with the last kick of the game
Full time
105′ GOAL – Liverpool retake the lead as Harvey Elliott scores a deflected goal, this time off Christian Eriksen. 2-3
106′ – Mason Mount comes on for Victor Lindelof
112′ GOAL – Marcus Rashford scores with a clinical first-time finish after McTominay’s clever pass. 3-3
116′ Amad Diallo is booked for blocking a free kick
120+1 GOAL – Amad Diallo coolly slots home after Garnacho’s fast counter. 4-3
120+2 Diallo is sent off for a second yellow for taking his shirt off after scoring
End of extra time
A winning mentality and elite performances
Erik Ten Hag was full of praise for United in the post-match press conference, particularly commending Amad Diallo, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and others.
He also spoke about the developing mentality of the team, and how yesterday’s huge win could hopefully be a turning point.
We showed the future of United is very bright. Young players are forming a very good team, they keep fighting and if they have that strong belief in every game for 90 minutes, we can play very good football.
We have had so many [injury] setbacks this season; the day before the match Jonny Evans had to drop out, so we had to play Aaron Wan-Bissaka [who hadn’t trained with the team], he did amazing and it shows we are together.
We know [Amad Diallo] can decide a game and I’m very pleased when he got the winner. Antony was another sub who has had problems, but he scored the equaliser, he is fighting and wants to contribute.
This win could be a turning point; the moment where the team develops the belief and energy that they can do amazing things. I think when you beat Liverpool like we did, you can beat any opponent and it’s up to us to prove that now.
Erik Ten Hag after the game
Although Liverpool dominated for periods, United were good value for the win.
We started brightly and took a deserved lead, and it was only half-way through the first half that Liverpool started to get on top. Their first goal came via a lucky deflection and the second goal was United playing themselves into trouble by trying to be too intricate at the back.
After the break, both teams had big chances but it was United who were able to take one, and we really should have won it at the end as Marcus Rashford missed a glorious chance with literally the last kick of normal time.
In extra time, Liverpool took the lead by a big defection again, and it would have been easy for United to crumble, but the boys kept going and Rashford atoned for his earlier howler.
Right at the end, Garnacho showed exceptional determination and drive to run 2/3 the length of the pitch and slip in substitute Amad Diallo, and the rest is history.
If there was ever a game to galvanise a club and its fans to finish the season strongly, this is it. We absolutely must keep up the momentum to the end of the season.
Player ratings and MOTM
Onana – 7.5. Kept United in the game at times and was unlucky with the deflected goals, distribution mostly good.
Dalot – 8. A big performance from the young Portugese – dogged defending and even spent some time in midfield when United were struggling.
Varane – 6.5. Started off well but began to tire as Liverpool piled on the pressure..
Lindelof – 7. Filled in at centre half admirably and came close to scoring himself after getting moved out to left back to accommodate Harry Maguire.
Wan-Bissaka – 7. Played at left back at short notice due to Jonny Evans pulling out at late notice. Played really well and made several key tackles – can still look a little lost going forward but improving.
McTominay – 7. Worked really hard and involved in plenty of key moments: scored the first goal, set up Rashford’s goal, could have had another if his shot went either side of the Liverpool keeper.
Mainoo – 8.5. Composed, calm, showed some great skill in tight areas, set up attacks and put a shift in in defence. Unlucky for the deflected goal.
Fernandes – 7. Worked tirelessly from start to finish defensively and set up some attacks. Even dropped back to near-centre half position to get on the ball more.
Garnacho – 8. Influential and full of running. Shot three times in the first half an hour, one of which led to the goal. Terrorised Liverpool with his directness at times and was the driving force for the winning goal
Rashford – 7. Looked dangerous and got better as the game went on. Should have won the game right at the end of normal time but didn’t let the miss faze him and took his extra time goal really well.
Hojlund – 6. Great to see him back and worked hard, but unable to influence things too much
Subs:
Maguire – 7.5. Imperious in the air at the back and created chaos in the final third when he ventured forward as United searched for the equalisers.
Antony – 7.5. One of his best performances in a United shirt, even without his well-taken equaliser. Worked hard defensively and looked dangerous going forward. He does have a right foot!.
Eriksen – 7. Did pretty well and played a delightful lofted through ball for Rashford’s game-winning chance at the end of normal time.
Diallo – 9 & MOTM. Took the game by the scruff of the neck, worked tirelessly tracking back and made a couple of key tackles. Showed excellent composure to grab the winner at the death.
Mount – 6. A brief cameo but good to see him back.
Looking forward
As mentioned by Erik Ten Hag, a game of this epic magnitude really could have a galvanising effect on the team, right as we start to get a few players back from injury too.
Our next two league games are in London against Brentford and Chelsea, and then it’s Liverpool at home again. We’ve also drawn Coventry in the FA Cup semi and will be odds-on to make it to another final.
There’s no domestic football this weekend, so let’s enjoy this moment one last time:
