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Manchester United crushed Liverpool’s quadruple aspirations with a stunning 4-3 extra-time victory to advance to the FA Cup semifinals.
Tyson Fury, a lifelong Red Devils fan, was in attendance for Sunday’s match at Old Trafford to see substitute Amad Diallo deliver the knockout punch for the hosts with a stunning 120th-minute winner in an all-time FA Cup classic.
Scott McTominay’s close-range goal in the opening ten minutes of normal time gave the Red Devil’s a great start. However, soon before halftime, Mohamed Salah and Alexis MacAllister scored two goals in as many minutes, putting the visitors ahead.
Liverpool led after the break, but they were unable to capitalise on their second-half dominance, which proved costly when Antony came off the substitutes’ bench to score an 87th-minute equaliser, ending his 24-match goal drought at Old Trafford and forcing the thrilling game into extra time.
Jurgen Klopp’s side regained the lead in extra time thanks to a deflected strike from Harvey Elliott, but Erik ten Hag’s spirited side came from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, with Marcus Rashford’s composed equaliser followed by Diallo’s majestic match-winner on the counter-attack, securing a semi-final against Coventry City at Wembley next month.
Klopp made three changes to Liverpool’s Europa League victory over Sparta Prague on Thursday, bringing back Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, and Luis Diaz, while Salah started for the second time in a row despite only recently recovering from an injury.
Rasmus Hojlund and Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to the starting lineup following injuries.
Casemiro is the newest member of the Red Devils’ treatment room, joining Mason Mount and Harry Maguire on the bench.
Manchester United vs Liverpool | FA Cup Quarter-Final
The hosts took the lead early on, and Wan-Bissaka, who was unexpectedly played as a left-back, found himself inside Liverpool’s penalty area within the opening two minutes, but his long-range shot was easily saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper made a fantastic diving save to block Rashford’s shot from outside the box.
Liverpool responded with two chances on the other end: first, Dominik Szoboszlai hit a long-range shot that Andre Onana saved, and then Salah hit a wonderful first-time volley from a tight angle that went inches wide of the far post.
United stayed in command, however, and their frantic start was rewarded with the first goal in the tenth minute. Alejandro Garnacho was slid in on the left channel and opened his body up to curl a shot at Kelleher, but his save fell right into the path of McTominay, who prodded the ball home on the line.
McTominay’s fourth career FA Cup goal was also his ninth of the season in all competitions, with five of them coming at Old Trafford – only in 2020-21 (six) did the Scotsman score more at home in a single season.
The majority of Manchester United’s attacks came from the left wing, via Rashford, with Garnacho looking unhappy on the right. McTominay looked threatening on the counter-attack against Liverpool, but he made two bad passes that disappointed both Hojlund and Rashford.
Kobbie Mainoo, a Red Devils midfielder, was a livewire in the first half, darting past several Liverpool defenders before combining with Rashford to create a golden opportunity for McTominay to double the hosts’ lead just after halftime, but Kelleher saved the Scotsman’s first-time shot from central position.
Manchester United defeated Liverpool in a thrilling match
The game quickly became stretched, and Liverpool appeared to have restored parity in the 36th minute when Wataru Endo coolly stroked a finish into the bottom corner, but the visitors’ celebrations were cut short when Salah was caught just offside in the build-up.
Liverpool’s frowns were quickly turned upside down, however, as they scored twice inside four minutes on the stroke of halftime to put themselves ahead at the interval, startling Manchester United in the process.
A week after equalizing against Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend, Mac Allister was at it again for the Merseysiders, as his deflected shot crept in at Onana’s near post following a brilliant driving run into the box by Jarell Quansah and a cushioned assist from Darwin Nunez to set up the Argentinian.
Nunez also played a role in Liverpool’s second goal, as his cutback from the left and strike at goal were well saved by Onana’s left hand, but the ball fell pleasantly to Salah, who had time to take a touch before slamming a right-footed shot in off the post.
Antony, Rashford, and Victor Lindelof all had decent chances to make the net ripple as Manchester United made the stronger start in extra time, but it was Elliott who took advantage of the hosts’ lopsided defensive formation to put Liverpool back in front in the 105th minute.
The playmaker fired a powerful effort from about 25 yards out that swerved off Eriksen’s foot and sailed past Onana into the bottom corner.
Manchester United 4-3 Liverpool – Amad Diallo Ends Jurgen Klopp’s Quadruple Dream with Last-Minute Winner
Man United opened the second half of extra time with only two natural defenders – Maguire and Dalot – as Lindelof was replaced by midfielder Mount, who made his first appearance since November after missing time due to injury.
However, the Red Devils continued to press forward, and Maguire acted as an emergency centre-forward at times, but it was Rashford, playing down the middle, who netted a crucial equaliser for the hosts five minutes after the break, capitalizing on Liverpool giving the ball away in their own half before slotting a composed finish into the bottom right corner.
Diallo then came up with the goods in the dying embers to prevent penalties, burst forward on the counter-attack with Garnacho, received the ball from his Argentine teammate, and arrowed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner, sending Old Trafford into a frenzy and Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
The Ivorian winger received a second yellow card for removing his jersey in celebration. However, Manchester United easily defeated their bitter rivals following the lead.
Liverpool’s Premier League title chase will resume on March 31 at home against Brighton & Hove Albion after the international break. On the other side, Manchester United will play Brentford the day before.
