Peter Schmeichel: Manchester United Aren’t Good Enough to Win Premier League

Juan Mata would cross the ball and find the head of Marouane Fellaini, he would find the cross bar only, the ball would rebound out to Wayne Rooney, who would net United’s 100th goal against Liverpool.

It lifted them back above West Ham into fifth place, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and sufficiently emboldened the under-pressure Dutchman to entertain talk of reviving their flagging title challenge.

After a disappointing end to 2015, United’s results have steadily improved and much of the praise has gone to their talismanic number 10, who has shaken off criticism to score in four consecutive matches. “I think this game will give a big boost to players, fans, everyone in the environment of Manchester United”.

“It was massive victory for us”, he told Sky Sports “and continues our good start to this year”.

Van Gaal has many critics among United fans, but has given them at least four reasons to smile since taking over at Old Trafford four wins in four league games against Liverpool. Sunday’s Premier league clash with Liverpool, at Anfield, was no exception. Rooney’s strike kept United in touch in the title race.

A report in Tuesday’s edition of SportsMail states that the United players were “shouting and screaming at each other so loudly that the Liverpool players could hear them from their own dressing room”.

“At the minute, we are not but we have to keep fighting, keep putting performances in I am sure we will win more than we lose”.

However, the German was left bitterly disappointed as United goalkeeper David De Gea was once again in fine form, keeping a clean sheet that allowed coach Louis van Gaal’s team to prevail.

He was also delighted with Rooney’s victor.

Liverpool carved out some openings, for Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, but De Gea wasn’t tested once and the shots were from long range.

“Both teams approached the game in the right manner and created chances”, Hughes said.

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

His side’s topsy-turvy season continued as they largely controlled the match at Anfield before being hit with a sucker punch when Wayne Rooney scored with United’s only shot on target.

“It is frustrating, because there were many things that were good, but our finishing was not good”, he said.