26 January,2021 06:43 AM IST | Manchester | AFP
Man United`s Bruno Fernandes (left) scores off a free kick against Liverpool in a FA Cup fourth-round match at Old Trafford on Sunday
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Bruno Fernandes's dedication to perfecting his free-kick as the Portuguese star's stunning strike earned Man Utd a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.
Solskjaer handed Fernandes a rare rest from the start as United lead the EPL table. "Bruno stayed about 45 minutes after training yesterday, shooting free kicks. So I was confident he could score one if he got the chance. He's never happy to go inside after training when he's playing the next day," said Solskjaer.
Liverpool's wait for a first domestic cup win of Jurgen Klopp's reign compounds their faltering league form. The English champions have fallen six points behind United after failing to score in their last four league games. However, Mohamed Salah's brace gives them hope of a revival.
Roberto Firmino and Salah's lack of form saw them dropped for Thursday's shock 0-1 home defeat to Burnley. Restored to the starting XI, they combined perfectly for the opener on 18 minutes as Firmino's pass opened up the United defence and the Egyptian provided a dinked finish over Dean Henderson. United took just eight minutes to hit back. Marcus Rashford's raking cross-field pass just evaded James Milner and Mason Greenwood fired past Alisson Becker.
A number of injuries to centre-backs have disrupted Liverpool's season with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out and Joel Matip struggling to stay fit. Teenager Rhys Williams, 19, failed to cut out Greenwood's through ball for Rashford three minutes into the second half and the England international slotted past the advancing Alisson. Again, Firmino and Milner combined to tee up Salah to smash home his second before the hour.
Fernandes's strike was a worthy winner of a thrilling tie as he used Paul Pogba to unsight Alisson and fired the ball low into the Brazilian's left-hand corner. United will face West Ham in the last 16 next month.
18th min: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino finds Mohamed Salah who slots over an onrushing Man Utd goalie Dean Henderson... 0-1
26th min: Man Utd's Marcus Rashford puts a cross-field ball over the James Milner and Mason Greenwood sends a low shot past 'keeper Alisson Becker... 1-1
48th min: Liverpool defender Rhys Williams misses a clearance and Rashford slots it past Becker....2-1
58th min: Firmino passes to Milner, who dummies it into the path of Salah and he fires it home... 2-2
78th min: Bruno Fernandes hammers his free kick hard and low, beating Becker to his left... 3-2
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