Manchester United defeated Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals courtesy of starlet Amad Diallo’s last-gasp winner in the second-half of extra-time.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez all picked up injuries during Liverpool’s dramatic FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
Erik Ten Hag’s side claimed a last-gasp 4-3 victory over their Merseyside opponents at Old Trafford as Amad Diallo slotted home in the final minute of extra time to dump the Reds out of the competition.
Alexis McAllister cancelled out Scott McTominay’s early opener and twice Liverpool led in a fiercely thrilling contest. Harvey Elliott looked to have claimed victory for Liverpool in the first-half of extra-time as his deflected strike bounced beyond Andre Onana. But United twice hit back, first through Marcus Rashford and then Amad at the death, ending Liverpool’s nine-game unbeaten run and their hopes of a quadruple in Klopp’s final season at the helm.
Speaking in his post-match interview with ITV, Klopp revealed the extent of the game’s impact on his squad with three new injuries emerging during the game in Diaz, Gakop and Nunez.
“Now the boys go on international duty, we hope they come back healthy,” said Klopp. “Lucho [Diaz] felt his groin, Darwin hamstring. Cody twisted his ankle. They play again in four or five days, it’s crazy.
“Hopefully we will finish the season in style. I really feel for our people.”
Liverpool entered Sunday contest as the favourites but injuries have been cruel to the Reds, with Klopp forced to face United without a swathe of key players, including Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip.
On his side’s performance – and that of their opponents – Klopp told ITV: “We did not have a good start but we adapted really well and played a top game. At 2-1 up we had so many chances to kill the game off, we were in a rush in some moments and the rest is already history. We were nearly there in extra time and in the end we lose the game. I cannot ask the boys for more.
“We had an intense season so far, you just have to count the games and today was hard. United took a lot of risks, I absolutely respect that. The decision making doesn’t get better the longer the game goes on. Congratulations to United for going to the semi-final.”
