Wayne Rooney: ‘Win over Liverpool is all that matters’

This was not a vintage performance from the skipper, who cut a peripheral figure for much of the encounter, but he emphatically dispatched his chance when it came, and his 176th Premier League goal for United gives him the highest total anyone has managed for one club.

I’m very happy for him but also for Manchester United.

Jurgen Klopp admitted that Liverpool had been punished for being wasteful after their 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United.

Things look very different now. “I think this will give a big boost to players, fans, everyone in the environment of Manchester United”. “Everyone wants to see Rooney scoring”.

Following a cagey first half, United improved after the break and earned a fourth straight win over Liverpool when Rooney crashed in a volley after Marouane Fellaini’s header hit the crossbar.

At the other end, De Gea saved Emre Can’s low drive with his legs as chances began to flow, Martial the next to go close when he dragged a shot wide before the hour mark.

When Brendan Rodgers was sacked and Klopp was appointed, Liverpool were four points behind United.

Indeed, what does only having one shot on target matter if that shot provides the winning goal?

Ahead of the match, the former Atletico Madrid stopper says he believes he and his teammates can win trophies with the Red Devils.

“Set-play was not good defending but it was unlucky because we had changed a few positions moments before”.

Henderson, Lallana and Firmino created the best chances for the Reds in both halves, but failed to find the net despite their best efforts.

It turned out that the game was a six pointer in more ways than one, as that’s now the gap between the two sides in the table, but Manchester United are still only fifth.

Arsenal, missing the injured Mesut Ozil and not risking a return for Alexis Sanchez, had the better of the possession but needed a pair of superb stops from Cech late on to keep a share of the points. However, a draw at Stoke was welcome to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team hasn’t won at the Britannia since 2010.

Liverpool have the second worst shot-per-goal ratio in the Premier League, needing 10 shots for each goal they score. Thankfully I got a chance and took it. It is a hard-fought 0-0.

“As long as we have enough players to play, we should not think about this”.

In a traditionally fiery encounter, tempers flared just 15 minutes in when Fellaini and Lucas squared up, but slack play and misplaced passes continued to hamper both sides inside the opening half-hour. Manchester City is a point behind in third after beating Crystal Palace 4-0 on Saturday.