Liverpool see of Manchester United in convincing victory
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Your support makes all the difference.Substitute Xherdan Shaqiri scored two goals from deflected shots to help Liverpool beat fierce rivals Manchester United 3-1 and lift his team back atop the Premier League on Sunday.
Days after keeping Liverpool in the Champions League with a stunning late save against Napoli, Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a dreadful mistake that gifted United an equalizer through Jesse Lingard in the 33rd minute at Anfield.
But Shaqiri spared Alisson from some of his embarrassment by putting Liverpool back in front in the 73rd — within three minutes of coming on as a substitute — with a low strike that deflected off United defender Ashley Young and went in off the crossbar.
Shaqiri's second goal clinched Liverpool victory and again came via a ricochet, this time off Eric Bailly, to deceive United goalkeeper David De Gea in the 80th.
Sadio Mane had given Liverpool the lead in the 24th.
United has been beaten 3-1 by both of its biggest rivals in recent weeks — it also lost by that score at Manchester City last month — and was outplayed on both occasions.
Liverpool is a point ahead of second-placed City — and 19 points ahead of sixth-placed United — after 17 games.
AP
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Liverpool vs Manchester United kicks off at 4:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 16th December.
Where can I watch it?
Liverpool vs Manchester United will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Main Event and Premier League channels from 3:30pm (GMT).
Sky subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app.
Highlights will be shown at 10:15pm on BBC Two.
Player to watch…
Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian is back to his very best form, and his individual effort in midweek against Napoli secured the Reds’ qualification into the knockout stages of the Champions League. Last week, Salah scored a brilliant hat-trick away at Bournemouth and the 26-year-old is now the joint top-scorer in the Premier League on 10 goals, alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, he drew a blank against United last season, and Liverpool haven’t scored at home against United in the league since March 2015.
Form guide…
Liverpool: WLWWWW
Manchester United: DWDDWL
Odds…
Liverpool to win: 11/20
Manchester United to win: 5/1
Draw: 16/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
63 minutes
A succession of Liverpool corners, the latest after Virgil Van Djik's left-footed slash hits a Manchester United leg and goes behind.
Liverpool are persisting with left-footed out swingers from the left but both Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson are finding only Romelu Lukaku at the near post.
64 minutes
Crucial intervention from Andrew Robertson.
Ashley Young's cross curls through the six-yard box channel between Alisson and the Liverpool defence, and looks to be destined for Marouane Fellaini's head, but the Scottish left back is there to head it behind.
Manchester United's first corner.
66 minutes
The second soon follows as a flying Roberto Firmino toes the looping ball behind, but taker Ashley Young is flagged for offside as Manchester United attempt to return it to him.
Xherdan Shaqiri is preparing to come on.
68 minutes
Manchester United's confidence is beginning to leave them a little open defensively with the midfield pouring forward with greater regularity.
Georginio Wijnaldum's low shot is weak and safely defused by David De Gea.
70 minutes
Naby Keita's day is done.
Xherdan Shaqiri should add more attacking thrust. 20 minutes left.
71 minutes
Manchester United do look relatively comfortable. Liverpool have resorted to ambitious shots from distance, none of which are troubling David De Gea.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United (Xherdan Shaqiri, 73 minutes)
How's that for impact!
Sadio Mane gets past Ander Herrera all too easily with the Spaniard lunging in, Mane escaping to the byline.
His cut back eventually works its way to Xherdan Shaqiri, who shoots with his right foot first time.
It is a huge deflection off Ashley Young that takes the ball down into the turf and up into the top corner, smashing against the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
76 minutes
Just the 15 minutes left for Manchester United to find another equaliser.
Peculiarly, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of activity on the bench. Both Juan Mata and Paul Pogba are wrapped up warm in the wet. Surely Jose Mourinho will be considering the pair with his side in need of a goal...
79 minutes
Anthony Martial is warmed up and ready.
Ander Herrera off.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United (Xherdan Shaqiri, 80 minutes)
Another deflected shot, another goal for Xherdan Shaqiri.
The spaces are more open now and Liverpool extend their lead.
It is nice play again down the left from Liverpool, with the ball worked back to Shaqiri to the edge of the area.
Shaqiri's shot cannons off of the sliding Eric Bailly and floats over David De Gea's outstretched hands, and that may seal it.
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