Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2: Watch Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick seal win after epic FA Cup showdown
CROWN the new King of Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes has done it again.
His 78th minute free kick settled this FA Cup classic.
Next Saturday it will be a year to the day that he signed for Manchester United.
It should be forever knock as Bruno Day in the red half of the city.
He has been the catalyst for the re-emergence of Manchester United as a power.
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League leaders and now at home to West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
His goal was his 28th since moving from Sporting Lisbon.
No other player at a Premier League club has scored more.
While last Sunday’s league encounter was a drab goalless affair this was all action from the very first minute.
The biggest ever TV audience for a Premier League game was left to doze off, while this had everyone on the edge of their sofas with play constantly switching from end to end.
With five changes made by both managers from their midweek league games there was a freshness about both sides.
Greenwood came on for just the last minute last Sunday and while he started the win against Fulham he has suffered from a lack of game time and goals.
Just three all season and only one in the league.
He was clearly eager to make up for that from the off with two chances in the opening 13 minutes.
For the first he ran half the length of the filed before trying to beat Alisson from a tiht angle at the near post when a cross to Rashford would have been the better choice.
A point Cavani made to the teenager before setting him up for another darting run which ended with stepovers aplenty but a shot wide of the near post.
Cavani did not look over chuffed with that either as he stood in the centre of the Liverpool box.
All would soon be forgiven but not before Salah had given Liverpool an 18th minute lead
It was a great through ball from Roberto Firmino and Salah slid between Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof to reach it before clipping a great chip over the advancing Dean Henderson.
United responded with Greenwood getting the equaliser on 26 minutes.
Paul Pogba executed a superb tackle on the edge of his own area that allowed Donny van de Beek to release Marcus Rashford down the left flank.
He saw Greenwood’s run on the opposite side of the pitch and picked him out superbly.
Greenwood chested the ball forward, allowed it to bounce once before firing across Alisson into the far bottom corner.
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The bizarre screams of Andy Robertson failing to put him off.
The mark if a good striker if he has missed chances is not to get down but keeping searching for more and Greenwood is a very, very good goalscorer.
Rashford was absolutely flying too with endless runs down the left and from one he slipped Van de Beek in but Alisson was out sharply and his flicked square ball could not find a teammate.
Pogba was looking lively too as was Firmino and the second-half could not come quick enough.
What a start we had to it as well as Greenwood turned provider this time for the lightning fast Rashford to tear into the Liverpool box and calmly roll a side footed shot into the far corner.
You have never heard such a roar from so few as staff and squad members in the Sir Bobby Charlton stand celebrated the goal.
Soon the cries of the Liverpool contingent would echo round Old Trafford as they equalised in the 58th minute.
Cavani had a loose pass intercepted midway inside his own half and Liverpool worked the ball into the area with Firmino once again teeing up Salah who fired through Henderson’s legs in the middle of the goal.
It was Salah’s 19th goal of the season the joint most of any Premier League player in all comps alongside Harry Kane.
With Liverpool tails up Klopp sent on Mane to increase their attacking potency.
Solskjaer responded with Bruno Fernandes and Fred.
In the 67th minute Mane put Salah in but he was denied his hat-trick by a great save from Henderson.
Then just as Liverpool looked to have the edge United responded with the 78th minute winner.
Fernandes the hero again.
When Fabinho went through the back of Cavani on the edge of the area a free kick was awarded.
Up stepped Fernandes who curled a shot over Thiago, who had strangely decided to duck slightly, on the edge of the wall and just inside the far post.
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Ole Solskjaer leapt from his seat and punched the air.
Cavani almost made it four when his thumpoing header came back off the post.
What a moment. What a game.