Liverpool v Manchester United

While Liverpool’s weakness recently has been crosses testing keeper Simon Mignolet, Van Gaal took the option to take a short corner that set up United’s victor for Wayne Rooney to score the victor and take his tally in the last four matches to five.

He said: “To beat Liverpool is always important, and today it was important because our competitors have lost points”.

“In the second half we played much better and kept the ball better and created chances, and Wayne Rooney makes the fantastic goal again”.

We know Manchester United have been a bit crap this season, but this might be a bit harsh.

Liverpool dominated proceedings on a wintry Merseyside afternoon, but it was Louis van Gaal’s side who prevailed after Marouane Fellaini headed against the bar in the 78th minute and Rooney slammed home the rebound.

Pressed on his side’s lack of goals – Liverpool have just 25 in 22 league games this season – Klopp said: “We have to work with what we have”.

“And it’s nothing personal when you say “you didn’t do your job, you didn’t do your job and by the way, you didn’t do your job”.

“We have a lot of matches still to go”, said Van Gaal when asked if his side could mount a late charge.

Jurgen Klopp does not believe Liverpool’s struggles in front of goal against Manchester United were down to the personnel playing in his forward line and has vowed to help his attack become more proficient.

“Maybe we had better opportunities to score, they (Stoke) played very well”, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BBC Sport. “Roberto Firmino again had a very good game”.

It was also Rooney’s 176th league goal for United, meaning that he has now surpassed Arsenal great Thierry Henry in terms of Premier League goals scored in the colours of one club.

Victory took United to within two points of the Champions League berths and allowed them to reclaim fifth place from West Ham United, leaving Liverpool six points back in ninth place, their top-four hopes fading.

Sergio Aguero starred for City against Palace at Etihad Stadium, scoring twice as they won the match 4-0. We create two chances and scored one of them.

While Rooney was the match-winner with the visitors’ only shot on target, David de Gea was the man who made the 1-0 win possible with a string of saves and was the far busier of the two goalkeepers. Three mistakes around the goal, and that’s too much obviously against a team with individual quality like Manchester United.