Liverpool's hopes of achieving a rare quadruple, with Jürgen Klopp in his final season at the helm, were dashed as they faced bitter rivals Manchester United in a highly anticipated FA Cup quarterfinal clash. Despite a frenetic and closely contested match, Liverpool ultimately succumbed to a 4-3 defeat in extra time, ending their quest for glory in the tournament and marking a significant setback in their season ambitions.
United secured victory in a thrilling FA Cup encounter at Manchester's Old Trafford, with goals from Scott McTominay, Antony, Marcus Rashford, and Amad Diallo contributing to the team's triumph in an exhilarating and unpredictable match.
Despite Liverpool's recent triumph as the Carabao Cup champions, having defeated Chelsea last month, they appeared poised for victory on two occasions during the match, only for Manchester United to mount a comeback, securing an equalizer in the dying moments of regulation time before netting two goals in extra time, thus negating a goal scored by Harvey Elliott.
“The first 35 minutes I think was the best minutes from our season,” Following the game, United manager Erik ten Hag shared his thoughts with the ITV broadcast. “We were really there, acting as a team. But then gaps in between the lines and you can’t allow this against Liverpool. Then they outplay you.
“We had to change. We went into the risk, we went into one against one, and the players were wonderful - the mentality, the attitude was so great.”
Klopp lamented his team's missed opportunities post-match, expressing disappointment as he witnessed the game slip away from his grasp.
“At 2-1 up we had so many chances to kill the game. Last pass not right, or in a rush in some moments. The rest is already history, if you want,” Klopp said after the game.
“We were nearly there in normal time and nearly there in extra-time and then we lose the game, that’s alright. I cannot ask for much more. We have had a much more intense season so far, everybody knows that, you just have to count the games. Today was hard, very hard.”
The match began with an exhilarating pace, as United quickly tested Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who was standing in for the injured Alisson, on two occasions in the opening minutes.
Within the first 10 minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai's attempt was thwarted by United's goalkeeper Andre Onana, yet it was the home team that asserted dominance during the frenetic beginning.
United's relentless attacking play in the opening stages yielded positive results as they managed to score the first goal of the match. Scott McTominay was in the right position to capitalize on a rebound after Liverpool's goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, made a save from a shot by Alejandro Garnacho. McTominay's opportunistic goal gave United the lead and set the tone for the remainder of the game.
As the game progressed, Klopp's team gained momentum and started to pose challenges for United's defense as they sought to level the score.
In the 38th minute of the match, Wataru Endo scored what seemed like an equalizing goal for his team. However, upon review by the match officials, it was determined that Mohamed Salah, who was involved in the play leading up to the goal, was slightly offside. As a result, the goal was disallowed, denying Endo and his team the opportunity to draw level.
After some time, Liverpool managed to score, although it came with a stroke of luck. Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister received a pass from Darwin Núñez and took a shot at the goal, which was heavily deflected off Kobbie Mainoo, making it difficult for Onana to save.
Merely three minutes later, Núñez's attempt was thwarted by an outstretched Onana just before halftime, but the rebound fell to Salah, who swiftly capitalized on the opportunity to score, completing a sudden reversal of fortunes right before the halftime whistle.
Liverpool sustained their strong performance from the first half as they entered the second half of the match. They kept up their aggressive and fast-paced style of play, maintaining control of the game and dictating the tempo with determination and vigor.
Onana denied Núñez twice, while Mac Allister's free kick sailed over the bar, showcasing Liverpool's relentless attacking intent. Meanwhile, United winger Antony, introduced as a substitute, had a rare chance but dragged his effort wide as United struggled to make inroads.
As the match progressed, the visiting team remained aggressive in their offensive efforts, aiming to extend their lead and secure victory. In the 80th minute, they found themselves in a promising position with a numerical advantage of five attackers against two defenders during a counter-attack. However, despite the favorable situation, they were unable to convert the opportunity into a goal, ultimately squandering their chance to put the game out of reach for the opposition.
Although Liverpool had dominated possession for the majority of the match, their failure to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities came back to haunt them in the 87th minute, as United launched a swift counter-attack that culminated in Antony receiving the ball and slotting it past Kelleher with his right foot, marking only his second goal of the season and leveling the score at 2-2.
Shortly after, Liverpool nearly retaliated when Harvey Elliott's shot ricocheted off the post, while Marcus Rashford squandered a golden opportunity to secure victory for United in the last minute of regular play.
In the ensuing extra time, both teams found themselves on more equal footing, but it was Liverpool who capitalized on a stroke of luck to take the lead. Elliott's powerful shot from distance took a deflection off Christian Eriksen's boot, finding the bottom corner of the net and igniting celebrations among the traveling supporters.
In such a frenetic game, no advantage could be considered secure, as demonstrated by United's resurgence in the latter part of extra time. Rashford redeemed himself by equalizing the score at 3-3, and then substitute Amad Diallo led a decisive counter-attack in the closing moments, ultimately beating Kelleher to secure a memorable victory for the Red Devils in an unforgettable FA Cup encounter.
Diallo's expulsion came as a result of receiving a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration, yet his heroic contribution in the dying moments of the game will likely overshadow this transgression and earn him forgiveness.
United is set to face Coventry City from the English Championship in the semifinals, while the other matchup features a Premier League showdown between Manchester City and Chelsea, both of whom emerged victorious over the weekend against Newcastle United and Leicester City, respectively.
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