"Never Say Die" Manchester United seal semi-final spot in thrilling see-saw classic

Sunday 17 March 2024

FA Cup Quarter-Finals, Game 4

Manchester United Vs Liverpool

Old Trafford Stadium, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0RA

"Never Say Die" Manchester United seal semi-final spot in thrilling see-saw classic

Manchester United edged Liverpool in a see-saw 7-goal thriller to end the Reds' quadruple hopes and sealed the last semi-final spot.

MATCH PREVIEW:

One of the most fiercest rivalries in world football. Manchester United and Liverpool, square off for the second time this season, as the previous encounter ended goalless at Anfield in the Premier League. 39 Premier League Titles, and 9 Champions Leagues separates these two teams. A clash with an incredible history, arch-rivals for so many years. As these two teams, battle out for a semi-final clash in the FA Cup. Manchester City, Chelsea and Coventry City have booked their places there, and who will join them? Will it be, Erik Ten Hag's Red Devils, or Klopp's quadruple-chasing Liverpool?

TEAM NEWS:

2 changes for Manchester United from their comfortable 2-0 home win over Everton with, Rasmus Højlund & Aaron Wan-Bissaka coming in for the injured duo of Jonny Evans and Casemiro. Kobbie Mainoo has been in sparkling form, but he has not received an England call-up as Southagate named his England team ahead of the international friendlies on Thursday. Harry Maguire returns to the bench after a spell on the sidelines and Højlund returns after 3 weeks out injured.

Even with the injury list, Liverpool make 3 changes from their huge 2nd leg win over Sparta Prague, with Connor Bradley, Alexis MacAllister and Luis Díaz starting, as they replace Virgil Van Dijk, Bobby Clark and Cody Gakpo, with the trio dropping to the bench.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Rasmus Højlund: A great start into 2024 for the Dane. 7 goals in his last 7 appearances for the Red Devils across the Premier League. Even though he had a slow start to his life at his new club, with injuries and inconsistency, he proved his value and worth as he has been in good touch. Will he help United to back-to-back semi-finals of the FA Cup?

Darwin Núñez: The 24-year-old has had a great time at Liverpool so far. Even though he has missed various chances, he still can score great goals, with 4 goals in his last 3 appearances, can he hit the target and score for Liverpool today?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

HERE WE GO! In this incredible clash, the first half begins. A rich history between these two teams as they play some lovely football which does not disappoint. After chances for both teams, Manchester United broke the deadlock on 10 minutes. Fernandes, finds the Argentine, Garnacho. And here's Garnacho, saved by Kelleher, BUT BACK IN BY SCOTT MCTOMINAY, WHO FIRES MANCHESTER UNITED IN FRONT!!! FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME AND IT WASN'T LONG INCOMING!! Brilliant play by Garnacho, who opened the keys of the right side of the Liverpool backline and his shot saved by the Irish shotstopper, but McTominay never misses from 3 yards. Manchester United 1 - Liverpool 0.

McTominay found the empty net after Kelleher denied the impressive Garnacho.

Great start for the Red Devils, and we all know how well Liverpool respond, are they to find an answer before half-time?

With chances coming thick and thin, Liverpool levelled on 44 minutes. Quansah, lovely run from the youngster, he picks out Núñez, and MAC ALLISTER!! THAT WILL DO HIM AND LIVERPOOL, A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD, AS THEY LEVEL WITH 1 MINUTE TO PLAY UNTIL HALF-TIME!! Onana was beaten to it, by the deflection of Kobbie Mainoo.

Alexis MacAllister levelled the score by finishing off at the near post, via a deflection

A minute later, Liverpool were in front. Given away by Bruno Fernandes, and it's Joe Gomez with a cross into the box, headed away, but only as far as Luis Díaz, onto Núñez, saved by Onana, but INTO THE NET ON THE REBOUND BY MOHAMMED SALAH!! THERE WAS NOTHING MORE ONANA COULD DO. OLD TRAFFORD HAS BEEN SILENCED, AND SALAH FIRES INTO THE NET OFF THE POST TO GIVE LIVERPOOL THE LEAD AT THE HALF-TIME BREAK.

Salah smashed in the rebound to make it 2-1 to Liverpool at the half-time interval.

HALF-TIME AT OLD TRAFFORD. MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - LIVERPOOL 2.

It's been a great game so far with chances coming for both sides, can Manchester United force extra-time and end Liverpool's hopes of a quadruple, or will Liverpool hold onto their lead and keep their quadruple hopes alive?

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

Off we go in the second half, with Manchester United trailing. There weren't too many chances to see and enjoy, although Liverpool had a free kick, Alexis MacAllister did not take the chance properly and blazed his free kick over the bar.  With nothing going to plan, Erik Ten Hag turned to his substitutes to try and turn the game around. He sent in Antony and Harry Maguire to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rasmus Højlund. Even though Antony came close to scoring, the pressure was once again on Manchester United to save themselves from elimination, and on 87 minutes, they forced extra-time. Garnacho, lovely run into the box and the ball has found Antony, and can he score? YES HE CAN!!! ANTONY HAS LEVELLED THE GAME FOR MANCHESTER UNITED AND FORCES EXTRA-TIME!! ABSOLUTE SCENES AT THE STRETFORD END! MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - LIVERPOOL 2, WITH ONLY 3 MINUTES LEFT TO PLAY!! WHAT A DRAMATIC END TO THE SECOND HALF!! 

It was Antony's second goal of this season, having scored away at Newport County in round 4.

But with the last kick of the second half, a big chance missed for Manchester United. Eriksen, lovely ball, RASHFORDD!!!!! How on earth has that not gone into the net?! What a chance for Man United!! Missed it right at the end, and will that come back to haunt him? Huge let off, for the Reds!

Rashford missed Manchester United's best chance at the end of the second half

WHAT A GAME WE ARE HAVING!! FULL-TIME AT OLD TRAFFORD, as the game now goes into extra time. It looks like there will be loads of changes for both teams. 

    KICK-OFF: FIRST-HALF (EXTRA TIME)

Only 30 minutes left to decide a winner, otherwise, it will be penalties to decide it all. Another thrilling half, where chances were coming and both sides couldn't take advantage. Until the 105th minute, Liverpool stormed into the lead again. Throw-in taken quickly by Connor Bradley, steps away from the defenders, finds Elliott, and takes a shot, DEFLECTED AND IN!!! HARVEY ELLIOTT SCORES AGAIN FOR LIVERPOOL IN EXTRA-TIME!! A VERY LUCKT DEFLECTION INDEED, AS IT WAS ERIKSEN'S BOOT THAT CAME IN THE WAY OF ELLIOTT'S SHOT, THAT TOOK IT AWAY FROM ONANA, IT'S ALL GOING HELTER-SKELTER at the moment, as the first period of extra time, ends.

Elliott celebrates his goal with Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp on 105 minutes.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF (EXTRA TIME)

Lots of chaos today, as the second period of extra-time begins!! Before the kick-off, another attacking change from Man United, with the returning Mason Mount replacing Victor Lindelöf. What will Ten Hag's plan be? He is playing Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo as a front 3 with Scott McTominay joining the attack as a front 4, a midfield duo of Eriksen and Mason Mount. But the defence, is something to applaud! Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot as a back 4. With all the attacking changes and a 4-2-4 formation, can this help Manchester United comeback into the game?

Surprisingly, lightning struck, with Manchester United dragging themselves level in a thrilling contest! GIVEN AWAY BY TSIMIKAS, OVER TO MCTOMINAY, THROUGH BALL BETWEEN THE DEFENDERS, MARCUS RASHFORDD!!!!! OH MY WORD!! MANCHESTER UNITED ARE LEVEL AGAIN!! ABSOLUTE SCENES AT THE STRETFORD END, THIS TIME, RASHFORD WAS NEVER GOING TO MISS FROM THERE!! CALM AND COMPOSED, UNITED ARE LEVEL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3 - LIVERPOOL 3, AND WE'VE ONLY PLAYED 111 MINUTES!!

Rashford's precise finish levelled Manchester United in extra-time

Another incredible tie going down to the wire!! And they almost won it 5 minutes later, Rashford, lovely control, MCTOMINAY!!! GOODNESS ME!! HOW CLOSE CAN YOU GET?! BRILLIANT PASS FROM RASHFORD TO FIND THE SCOT, BUT IT JUST GOES NARROWLY WIDE!!! Even after Diallo's yellow card, the game was sealed with the last kick of the game. Tsimikas's corner is headed away, towards Elliott and Endo, AND A MIX-UP BETWEEN THE TWO PLAYERS SEES GARNACHO AND DIALLO BREAK AWAY ON THE COUNTERATTACK! LOVELY RUN FROM GARNACHO, AS HE HAS DIALLO TO HIS LEFT, AND HE DOES PASS IT TO DIALLO, SETS HIMSELF, IT'S AMAD DIALOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTE BEDLAM AT OLD TRAFFORD!!! THE NOISE IS INCREDIBLE FROM THE HOME FANS!! WHAT EXTRODINARY SCENES!! AND AMIDST ALL THE CELERBRATIONS, IT'S A SECOND YELLOW CARD FOR AMAD DIALLO! MY GOODNESS ME, THE DRAMA IS ABSOLUTELY TOP TODAY!! FERGIE TIME FOR MANCHESTER UNITED WITH THE FINAL WHISTLE YET TO GO!! WILL THERE BE ONE MORE BIT OF HOPE FOR LIVERPOOL WITH THE EXTRA MAN?!

Amad Diallo recreates Messi's iconic celebration after scoring the winner.

Amidst all of the celebrations, referee John Brooks shows Diallo the red card, following a second yellow card.

THAT IS THAT!! ALL OVER AT OLD TRAFFORD! THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE HAS SOUNDED AND MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE WON IT IN EXTRA TIME!! I said it was going to be a terrific game, right from the whistle and it did not disappoint!!!

Player of the Match: Amad Diallo

 The impact sub, was the spark for the hosts as he came in when they were 2-1 down and he provided the knockout punch to end Liverpool's quadruple hopes in this historic win. Despite him getting sent off for two bookable offences, his heroics will be forever remembered by Manchester United fans for many years to come!