Liverpool will reflect on a chance missed. In fact, there were multiple chances spurned at Old Trafford as Jürgen Klopp’s side got into countless good positions in the final third only to either miss the shot or not even get that far thanks to a poor pass.
Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were all guilty of failing to make the most of the spaces that were afforded to them — and there were others who fell into the same category as well. Even though Liverpool scored three times in the 120 minutes, the Reds should have found the net at least a couple more times. Just one more earlier on would have saved a 30-minute extra period.
Had Liverpool made it 3-1 instead of allowing Manchester United to creep back into things in the second half when the game should have been dead, the final analysis would have been different. But Klopp’s side only has itself to blame.
Manchester United will go away believing that this was a statement victory. In its manner, coming right at the end of extra-time, it was, of course. Amad Diallo will remember that moment for the rest of his life.
However, that was not the full story. In the bigger picture, Liverpool should have managed the game better. It should have taken its chances when they came. And it should not have left Conor Bradley back on his own when it had a corner kick at the other end.
All match, the midfields of both sides had a tendency to go missing. The gaps between each penalty area were enormous — but again, Liverpool did not fully capitalize on that. Ultimately, it paid the price for that.
The reality, though, is clear: Manchester United played very well and Liverpool was well below par. That is the difference between the two at the moment. Home advantage played its part but so too did the Reds’ lack of final third quality.
If Erik ten Hag or Manchester United believe that this was a turning point or a sign of the Old Trafford side being closer to closing the gap on Liverpool, it will be mistaken. Its own performance was good, but not spectacular.
When the teams meet in the same stadium in the Premier League in a few weeks, it will be up to Liverpool to ensure that it shows up. On that occasion, if the same spaces are opened up, the end result could be very different.
Liverpool will know that not much would have had to go differently here for the result to not only have been reversed, but also a lot less marginal. Had Gakpo’s pass been played crisply instead of tentatively when Liverpool had a five-versus-two counter-attack, it would have been much more likely that Liverpool won by three or four than Manchester United got back into the contest.
Instead, we will never get to know how things would have played out. Klopp wanted control and instead he got chaos. With his players looking jaded — often unable to get back in and into a defensive shape — it was perhaps one game too far.
Liverpool failed to gain proper control — exactly what Klopp wanted when he was waving his hands at various players and deploring them to get back quicker. Eventually, it paid the price with the result when it conceded a heartbreaking late strike.
While there is a 17-point gap between Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League table, the only difference here was a final pass here or a poor decision there. Perhaps that can be explained by Liverpool fatigue after so many matches and an injury list that has been lengthy for months.
Whatever it is, the pair meet again at the same time, in the same stadium, on April 7. If Liverpool is to mask the disappointment about being out of the FA Cup by winning the Premier League instead, it will need there to be a different outcome.
Liverpool will reflect on a chance missed. In fact, there were multiple chances spurned at Old Trafford as Jürgen Klopp’s side got into countless good positions in the final third only to either miss the shot or not even get that far thanks to a poor pass.
Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were all guilty of failing to make the most of the spaces that were afforded to them — and there were others who fell into the same category as well. Even though Liverpool scored three times in the 120 minutes, the Reds should have found the net at least a couple more times. Just one more earlier on would have saved a 30-minute extra period.
Had Liverpool made it 3-1 instead of allowing Manchester United to creep back into things in the second half when the game should have been dead, the final analysis would have been different. But Klopp’s side only has itself to blame.
Manchester United will go away believing that this was a statement victory. In its manner, coming right at the end of extra-time, it was, of course. Amad Diallo will remember that moment for the rest of his life.
However, that was not the full story. In the bigger picture, Liverpool should have managed the game better. It should have taken its chances when they came. And it should not have left Conor Bradley back on his own when it had a corner kick at the other end.
All match, the midfields of both sides had a tendency to go missing. The gaps between each penalty area were enormous — but again, Liverpool did not fully capitalize on that. Ultimately, it paid the price for that.
The reality, though, is clear: Manchester United played very well and Liverpool was well below par. That is the difference between the two at the moment. Home advantage played its part but so too did the Reds’ lack of final third quality.
If Erik ten Hag or Manchester United believe that this was a turning point or a sign of the Old Trafford side being closer to closing the gap on Liverpool, it will be mistaken. Its own performance was good, but not spectacular.
When the teams meet in the same stadium in the Premier League in a few weeks, it will be up to Liverpool to ensure that it shows up. On that occasion, if the same spaces are opened up, the end result could be very different.
Liverpool will know that not much would have had to go differently here for the result to not only have been reversed, but also a lot less marginal. Had Gakpo’s pass been played crisply instead of tentatively when Liverpool had a five-versus-two counter-attack, it would have been much more likely that Liverpool won by three or four than Manchester United got back into the contest.
Instead, we will never get to know how things would have played out. Klopp wanted control and instead he got chaos. With his players looking jaded — often unable to get back in and into a defensive shape — it was perhaps one game too far.
Liverpool failed to gain proper control — exactly what Klopp wanted when he was waving his hands at various players and deploring them to get back quicker. Eventually, it paid the price with the result when it conceded a heartbreaking late strike.
While there is a 17-point gap between Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League table, the only difference here was a final pass here or a poor decision there. Perhaps that can be explained by Liverpool fatigue after so many matches and an injury list that has been lengthy for months.
Whatever it is, the pair meet again at the same time, in the same stadium, on April 7. If Liverpool is to mask the disappointment about being out of the FA Cup by winning the Premier League instead, it will need there to be a different outcome.
