EPL: United Beat Liverpool As Stoke Holds Arsenal

The home side wasted numerous opportunities and paid the price 12 minutes from time when Rooney fired United’s first shot on target high past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet after Marouane Fellaini’s header came back off the bar.

Louis Van Gaal’s side had to rely on brilliant goalkeeping by goalkeeper David de Gea, to snatch the vital win at the home of their great rival, and earned the shot stopper the man of the match award.

Wayne Rooney has now scored in four successive games for United for the first time since March 2012, the Englishman’s 176 goals for Manchester United has overtaken Arsenal’s Thierry Henry (175) as the scorer of the most goals for a single club in Premier League history.

Speaking after the game, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal said: “We know Wayne Rooney has played for Everton and now plays for United so he wants to score against Liverpool, it means a lot for him.

“We have made a good start in 2016, to beat Liverpool for the second time in a row is it marvellous, it gives a big boost for the players and the fans so I hope it shall continue with winning.

“That is why we are here, to win our games and at end of the season to be in the first three positions of the league.”

Finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League is the minimum requirement for United, and Tottenham is only two points away in fourth place.

Elsewhere, Arsenal returned to the top of the standings on goal difference above Leicester, after a goalless draw at Stoke City.

Arsene Wenger’s side had lost just once in the eight games prior to the trip to Stoke, but a draw against a team they beat just once away from home in eight appearances, means they have now picked up just six points from a possible 18.

“Maybe we had better opportunities to score, they played very well, very physical and were very direct, which is an unusual style for them,” Wenger told news men after the game.

“We needed to be strong physically and had a great spirit, we fought very hard but couldn’t take our chances. It is a hard fought 0-0. We have done better than years before at this ground and showed we can fight even when we miss certain players.

“It shows the spirit in the team, the desire and togetherness. We were less creative but on the physical front we did well.”

Stoke travel to Leicester on Saturday, while Arsenal host Chelsea the following day.