By David Awopetu
Bruno Fernandes fired Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round as his 78th-minute free-kick earned his side a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Liverpool’s poor form continued at the home of the fierce rivals; they have now failed to progress beyond the fourth round in five of their six seasons under Jurgen Klopp and the Premier League champions have recorded one win in their last seven games in all competitions.
Mohamed Salah gave the visitors the perfect start with a sublime finish but Mason Greenwood levelled eight minutes later following a sweeping move.
Marcus Rashford put United in front three minutes after the break, only for Salah to make it 2-2 just before the hour mark.
Liverpool looked more likely to score again and Salah was denied his hat trick by Dean Henderson’s save, but Bruno Fernandes followed his introduction from the bench to score with a curling, 20-yard free kick with 12 minutes to go. Salah shot wide with a chance to force extra time and United held on the go through.
For the first time since a March 2020 win over Manchester City, Solskjaer’s team have beaten one of England’s established “big six,” an important hurdle to overcome ahead of the second half of the league season, during which they will play away at City, Tottenham, Chelsea and, next Saturday, Arsenal. Liverpool will also visit Old Trafford.
United have now lost only once in 13 games – a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup – since going out of the Champions League at the beginning of December.
