Liverpool have moved a step closer to ensuring their qualification for the Champions League, next season, after defeating perennial rivals, Manchester United 2-4 at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Currently lying outside the top four, the former premier league Champions are on the verge of missing out on Europe's biggest club competition.
Man United have had to play three games in the space of five days, which has resulted in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having to rotate his squad more. This saw him make 10 changes to the team that lost to Leicester City.
United started the brighter side with Edison Cavani giving getting an early effort on goal in the 5th minute of play. A poor play by Alisson Becker allows Cavani to fancy the target, which he puts wide of the goal.
The hosts will eventually take the lead on the 10th minute after Liverpool failed to clear their lines, allowing Aaron Wan Bisaka enough space to find Bruno Fernandes, whose outside-of-the-foot shot was deflected into goal by Nathaniel Philips.
Liverpool, on the 28th minute, seemed to have gotten a lifeline back into the game. Eric Baily looked to have caught Philips, right inside the penalty box . VAR reviewed and confirmed that the Ivorian already got the ball cleanly.
The breakthrough for Liverpool came in the 34th minute. A Diogo Jota half volley saw Dean Henderson punch the ball to safety for a corner and from the corner, Liverpool found their equalizer.
Man United were unable to clear the danger, which allowed, villain turn victor, Philips, try to hit the back at the the of goal but needed a deft flick by Jota to draw Liverpool level.
Just before halftime, Roberto Firmino, who had never previously scored against United, found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead. A free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Firmino at the far post, who powered home a header.
It will not take Liverpool more than two minutes after the restart to ignite their desire again as they grabbed the third. Sloppy play by Luke Shaw gifted the ball to Alexandre-Arnold who fired in a cross towards goal, which should be a comfortable gathered routinely by Henderson but the England international fumbles it, allowing Firmino tap into the net for his and Liverpool's second of the night.
The away side continued to look the better team and should have wrapped it up when Jota and Alexandre-Arnold were both denied in the 59th and 63rd minutes respectively.
Man United were not giving up so easily, despite the errors from their defenders and Marcus Rashford finally pulled one back. A fine play between Bruno Fernandes and Cavani allowed the latter to release Rashford who placed a left-footed effort into the bottom corner of Alison's post. Game on United.
It was not going to be the 11th time for United to come back and win a game as Mohammed Salah sealed the game on the stroke of 90. The home team went in search of a goal, leaving gaping space behind. The ball fell to Salah in his own half and he raced the pitch to finish a fine run to the right of Henderson.
With the win, Liverpool moved up to fifth, four points behind Chelsea and having played a game less. An important closing stage of the campaign for Klopp and his boys.
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