Stubborn United earns win against Liverpool
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United scored twice through Marcus Rashford in the opening 24 minutes then produced an ultra-defensive display to grind out a 2-1 win over fierce rival Liverpool and strengthen its second place in the English Premier League on Saturday.
“It was perfect, in relation to what the game gave us,” said United manager Jose Mourinho, who won the tactical battle over rival manager Juergen Klopp.
There was as much action in the stands as on the field at West Ham, where home fans invaded the field on two separate occasions to confront players, and gathered below the directors’ box to force the club’s owners to be escorted out in the second half of the 3-0 loss to Burnley.
Young fans were pictured taking refuge in Burnley’s dug-out amid the disorder.
“It’s well known fans haven’t been happy for a long time,” said West Ham captain Mark Noble, who grabbed one of the pitch invaders and threw him to the ground in one exchange. “I’m a human being. I know I’m out on the pitch, under scrutiny, but if someone approaches me I will protect myself.”
West Ham stayed just above the relegation zone with its latest heavy defeat, but its Premier League plight is nothing compared to West Bromwich Albion’s.
A 4-1 home loss to Leicester left West Brom in last place on 20 points, seven from safety with eight games left.
Liverpool’s players failed to recover from a first half in which they were bullied by United and failed to deal with the hosts’ direct and aggressive approach.
The source of both goals was long clearances by United goalkeeper David De Gea to Romelu Lukaku, whose power and athleticism was too much for marker Dejan Lovren. Lukaku’s flick-on was seized by Rashford, who drove in the first goal in the 14th minute. Then Lovren fell to the ground in an aerial challenge with Lukaku, whose pass into the area was intercepted only for Rashford to sidefoot home.
United packed its defence, with wingers Juan Mata and Rashford playing as auxiliary full backs and central midfielders Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay patrolling in front of the defence. Liverpool’s top scorer Mohamed Salah had a quiet day.
Liverpool dominated possession but could only muster one goal, a spectacular miscued volley by United defender Eric Bailly into his own net in the 66th.