Bruno Fernandes’ superb 78th-minute free-kick gave Manchester United victory in a thrilling FA Cup tie with old rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Liverpool led a fantastic contest through Mohamed Salah, who then equalised after Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford had struck for the hosts either side of the break.
But in a game which had everything last week’s drab stalemate between this pair at Anfield lacked, Fernandes came off the bench to have the final word after Fabinho had fouled Edinson Cavani on the edge of the area.
Fernandes might have been slightly off the pace in recent games but when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed his £47m inspiration to come up with another special moment, the Portuguese delivered, bending his shot round the wall and beyond Allison’s reach.
The victory earns United a home meeting with an in-form West Ham side managed by former boss David Moyes in the fifth round.
But the search for form goes on for Liverpool, whose only win in seven games since that seven-goal hammering of Crystal Palace came against Aston Villa’s kids in the last round, and who have a meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham looming on Thursday.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Henderson
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2LindelöfBooked at 89mins
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 39McTominay
- 6PogbaBooked at 90mins
- 11GreenwoodSubstituted forFredat 66′minutes
- 34van de BeekSubstituted forBruno Fernandesat 66′minutes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forMartialat 86′minutes
- 7Cavani
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 8Mata
- 9Martial
- 17Fred
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 21James
- 27Telles
- 31Matic
- 38Tuanzebe
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 46R Williams
- 3FabinhoBooked at 42mins
- 26Robertson
- 5WijnaldumSubstituted forManéat 62′minutesBooked at 69mins
- 6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forShaqiriat 81′minutes
- 7Milner
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forOrigiat 81′minutes
- 17Jones
Substitutes
- 10Mané
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Minamino
- 21Tsimikas
- 23Shaqiri
- 27Origi
- 47Phillips
- 62Kelleher
- 76N Williams
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester United 3, Liverpool 2.
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Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Liverpool 2.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Paul Pogba (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Curtis Jones (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
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Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United).
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Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Divock Origi (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
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Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Martial replaces Marcus Rashford.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri replaces Thiago.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Roberto Firmino.
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Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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Goal! Manchester United 3, Liverpool 2. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
