Man U’s win over Liverpool intensifies title challenge
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Manchester United’s unlikely title challenge in the Premier League gained further momentum with a 3-0 win over great rival Liverpool on Sunday, plunging last season’s runner-up into more disarray.
Goals by Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie sealed a sixth straight win for United, which has recovered from a disappointing start to the campaign to climb to third place and within eight points of leader Chelsea.
The score line was harsh on Liverpool, which was repeatedly denied by United goalkeeper David de Gea, but exposed the team’s inefficiency up front and underlined the transformation in fortunes of England’s two biggest clubs.
Eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday, Liverpool dropped to 10th place in the Premier League after Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Swansea in Sunday’s other game.
Christian Eriksen drove in an 89th-minute winner for Spurs, who are seventh and have scored late goals for 2-1 victories in three of their last four away games.
While the title race is likely to come down to a straight fight between Chelsea and Manchester City, United cannot be discounted.
Louis van Gaal’s team still has plenty of room for improvement and has no European or English League Cup commitments to clog up its schedule this season. Liverpool was in a similar situation last season and almost won the league, taking a fast-finishing City to the final weekend.
“We have to see match by match,” Van Gaal said of United’s title chances. “Of course, winning now six matches in a row is fantastic but we have to improve our playing style still and I am saying that nearly every week.”
Liverpool won the corresponding fixture 3-0 last season, one of a string setbacks that eventually cost United manager David Moyes his job. This time, it is Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers under pressure after defeat in what remains a marquee fixture in English football.
Rooney, playing in central midfield, opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Mata headed in a second in the 40th minute. Van Persie sealed victory in the 71st.