In-form Marcus Rashford scored a late winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), dragging Erik ten Hag’s rejuvenated side back into the Premier League title race sooner than anyone expected.
England forward Rashford completed the turnaround eight minutes from time to score for the seventh successive match in all competitions, the first United player to do so since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes turned the Manchester derby on its head late in the second term.Credit:Getty
The hosts had looked beaten after Jack Grealish had headed City in front just after the hour mark, with the champions looking in control until Bruno Fernandes levelled in the 78th minute, and Rashford finished the job in dramatic fashion.
A ninth successive win in all competitions for United was celebrated with real vigour, as they moved to within a point of City in second, giving Arsenal the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the standings with a win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
“Scoring a goal and winning the game, that’s always the aim. This game is a little special,” Rashford told BT Sport.
“It’s a change of dynamics. I’ve said many times but options off the bench even when we’ve had injures, players out of position, everyone is putting a shift in.
A dejected Erling Haaland after United’s second goal.Credit:Getty
“Anything is possible. We’re very pleased to come back and win.”
The hosts had the best chances of a tense first half at Old Trafford, with Rashford seeing a tame effort blocked on the line by Manuel Akanji, while City struggled to get going.
City were much improved after the break, and the pressure told as Grealish stepped off the bench to head his side into the lead in the 61st minute, 193 seconds after coming on, on the end of a superb cross from the potent assist-maker Kevin De Bruyne.
However, with United looking second best, they produced a remarkable turnaround, out of nowhere, to turn the match on its head and get fans dreaming of a first league title in a decade.
Overnight results
- Manchester United 2 Manchester City 1
- Wolves 1 West Ham 0
- Nottingham Forest 2 Leicester City 0
- Brighton 3 Liverpool 0
- Everton 1 Southampton 2
- Brentford 2 Bournemouth 0
Monday (AEDT) fixtures:
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace, 1am
- Newcastle v Fulham, 1am
- Tottenham v Arsenal, 3.30am
There was an element of controversy about United’s equaliser in the 78th minute, with Rashford initially flagged offside as Fernandes swept the ball home, with the goal given following a VAR review, much to City’s incredulity.
Rashford was then the hero once again for United, sliding home a pinpoint cross from substitute Alejandro Garnacho to snatch a thrilling late win for the hosts, who beat City for only the second time in eight attempts at home in the league.
“The game was really good,” coach Pep Guardiola told BT Sport. “We played good. They are incredible in transitions. Congratulations to the team. I’m proud to come here and play with this personality. They punished us in transitions.”
Juergen Klopp and Liverpool’s season of woe continued with a humiliating defeat to Brighton.Credit:AP
‘This is a really low point’
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp blasted his side’s effort in a humiliating 3-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton that he called the worst ever in his reign.
Winger Solly March scored twice and created a third for Brighton as they dominated the game from start to finish, with Liverpool barely able to string together a single decent attack.
“Massively frustrated, congratulations to Brighton on a super game against a bad opponent. We were not good today, I can’t remember a good phase or period,” an irate Klopp said.
“Doing better than today should be easy, because this is a really low point. I can’t remember a worse game.”
Despite losing 3-1 to Brentford in their last Premier League game on January 2, Klopp said that he had been confident coming in to Saturday’s game that his side could get a much-needed win.
“There was no sign for this performance before the game, but that’s probably how it is sometimes. There’s nothing that I thought yesterday or this morning that this could happen.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, appear to have lost the race to sign Mykhailo Mudryk, with their other main London rivals hijacking the move in stunning fashion.
Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk are close to an agreement over the transfer of the Ukraine forward, both clubs said on Saturday.
According to British media, the deal will be worth £85 million ($150m), with the 22-year-old Mudryk set to sign a seven-and-a-half year contract.
‘I am a lucky man’: Ange takes Celtic to another cup final
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic have made it into another Scottish showdown, but the champions made hard work of reaching the League Cup final with their 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in driving rain at Hampden Park.
The holders only made sure of their semi-final victory deep into stoppage time when Giorgos Giakoumakis scored their second to finally put paid to the resistance of the Scottish Premiership strugglers Killie.
Daizen Maeda had struck after 18 minutes to ensure they always had an element of control but, as in the equivalent league fixture the week before which Celtic had also won 2-0, they weren’t at their fluent best and Kilmarnock, one from bottom of the league, battled hard.
Ange Postecoglou celebrates Celtic’s semi-final win.Credit:Getty Images
Celtic weren’t helped by both Maeda and Reo Hatate having goals chalked off for offside by VAR but they eventually booked their place back at Hampden next month to face the winners of the second semi-final between Rangers and Aberdeen.
It will be Celtic’s sixth final in seven seasons, giving Postecoglou the chance to successfully defend the first title he won at Parkhead at the end of 2021.
“It was a battle today. Conditions made it tough, the pitch made it tough. Credit to my boys again, they always find a way irrespective of what the challenge is. They found a way again today,” said Postecoglou, who’s booked his third domestic final at Hampden after the League Cup win and the Scottish Cup defeat by Rangers.
Greek Giakoumakis netted the second in the 95th minute just moments after seemingly fouling Joe Wright in the other box, leaving Kilmarnock furious.
Celtic will face either Rangers or Aberdeen in the final.Credit:Getty Images
“I am a lucky man, so maybe it filters through to the players as well,” added Postecoglou.
Celtic’s Socceroo Aaron Mooy was delighted to book his place in the final, telling the BBC: “It was a tough match. The pitch was soft so it was a challenge but we kept going and we’re very happy.
“They have big boys in their team so we had to be switched on, and the weather wasn’t the best.”
Postecoglou was unimpressed by the state of the Hampden Park pitch.
He said: “I am disappointed with the state of the pitch. I thought that would be better.
“You know when you come to Hampden it is a showcase event and you kind of want the conditions to be the best they possibly can.
“Even when I walked out before the game, I was disappointed in the pitch.
“If you are going to have showcase events – where everyone is watching and the spotlight is there – you want to present it in the best possible condition.”
Reuters, AAP
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