United controlled game and deserved win: Mourinho
MANCHESTER United fully deserved their 2-1 victory over Liverpool yesterday as they were “always in control” of the encounter despite Liverpool’s pressure in the second half, said manager José Mourinho.
“We can split the halves – United first half and Liverpool second but in my opinion our first half was a half with goals and danger,” said Mourinho.
“In the second half – in my opinion it was Liverpool controlling with the ball and United controlling without the ball.
“Our team was always in control. Even in set pieces, corners, dangerous situations – we were in control so I think we deserved it,” he said.
Two goals from Marcus Rashford gave United a 2-0 lead after 24 minutes and Juan Mata went close to a third with a bicycle kick inside the area. Liverpool had plenty of possession after the break but apart from Eric Bailly’s 66th minute own goal, they created few real chances.
“Liverpool pushed us into defensive situation but we kept control. It was a complete performance by us with two different halves.
“You can be in control without having the ball, you can be in trouble when you have the ball. I don’t remember a dangerous situation to our goal. I think we deserved the three points.”
Mourinho said Rashford’s inclusion, for his first start of the calendar year, reflected some impressive form in training as well as the absence through injury of his other left-sided attacking option Anthony Martial. “He scored two goals in a big match against a top class opponent. Of course he was fundamental. The first chance he had ... he scored.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool’s defending, not their failure to create clear-cut chances, was behind their 2-1 loss.
“Long balls to Romelu Lukaku and second situations. Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the world, we needed to be around to pick up the ball, we were not and Rashford could use the situation twice,” he said.
“We have to defend these situations better. You can always lose a header or a challenge with Lukaku of course but there is a gap in behind and we need to close that,” said the German.
Riyad Mahrez produced a majestic performance to create one goal and score another as Leicester City came back from a goal down to hammer bottom side West Bromwich Albion 4-1.
The home side got off to a superb start when striker Salomon Rondon stole the ball in front of his marker to stab home a deft volley in the eighth minute.
Jamie Vardy put Leicester back on level terms with an even better volley, latching on to a superb long pass from Mahrez to fire home his 14th Premier League goal of the season.
Mahrez then latched on to substitute Kelechi Iheanacho’s pass to dink the ball home and give Leicester the lead just after the hour mark. Iheanacho’s 76th-minute header made it 3-1, prompting many of the home fans to head towards the exits.
Vicente Iborra’s stoppage-time header rounded off another dismal day
Brom.
West Ham United could face serious repercussions after several pitch invasions during the second half of a crushing 3-0 home Premier League defeat by Burnley. Dangerously close to the relegation zone, West Ham dominated the first half but everything turned sour at the London Stadium after the break.
Ashley Barnes fired Burnley ahead in the 66th minute, prompting furious home fans to run on to the pitch. If that was not bad enough Chris Wood doubled Burnley’s lead minutes for struggling West later and this time there were scuffles in the stands and one fan ran on and took the corner flag.
Wood made it 3-0 as chaos broke out in the stadium, with West Ham’s owners David Gold and David Sullivan being asked to leave the directors’ box for their own safety. Defeat left West Ham in 16th place, three points above the relegation zone.
Wayne Rooney’s penalty miss mattered little as Everton continued their fine home form as they earned a 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
The hosts dominated in the first half but couldn’t find a way past a Brighton side who travelled to Goodison Park on the back of three wins in their last four games in all competitions.
However, two goals in the second half saw the hosts home. Gaetan Bong put through his own net on the hour mark,before January signing Cenk Tosun smashed into the net in the 76th minute. Brighton, who had Anthony Knockaert sent off for a dangerous tackle, dropped to 11th after a first defeat in eight in all competitions, now below Everton, whose ninth Premier League home win of the season lifted them to ninth. – Reuters