Manchester United manager Van Gaal wins favour with another double over Liverpool

Wayne Rooney’s late victor for Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday was the seventh goal Liverpool have conceded from a corner this season, more than any other Premier League team.

The gap to the top has closed for United after Arsenal’s goalless draw at Stoke City on Sunday followed Leicester dropping two points at Aston Villa on Saturday.

“When you beat Liverpool, it is good for the fans and for the table as our competitors also lose points, it is a big step in a good direction and I am very happy”, Van Gaal told the BBC.

The first half of the game, neither side showed much willing to score, or indeed too much in the way of footballing skill, it would take the second half to see things come to life, if only just a simmer rather than a boil for these clubs.

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”.

Liverpool’s poor defending contributed to Wayne Rooney scoring the only goal as the Reds lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Anfield.

The fact United were able to leave Anfield with three points was largely down to David de Gea, who was by far the busier goalkeeper.

Both teams had taken part in thrilling 3-3 draws in midweek, but this clash looked set to be scoreless until Rooney popped up to volley home his 78th minute victor. On another day we would maybe have been one- or two-nil up and we can see the game out.

Jack Butland made three important stops for Stoke, from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud in the first half, and from Giroud in the second, with Petr Cech twice denying Marko Arnautovic after the break. Today, we played not bad, but we need results and we don’t have them often enough.

“I think the smallest of our problems was our centre-forward”, he said.

Louis van Gaal has of late received received widespread criticism from Manchester United supporters.

Asked if he believed United could win the championship, the Dutchman said: “We are seven points behind now”.

Manchester United goalkeeper says he is happy to stay at the club despite interest from Real Madrid.

“It was an important win for us”.

“We did really well creating the chances, but there were a lot of situations where we could have created more chances and didn’t”. Then we lost Rooney…goal.