Wayne Rooney’s late strike settled a scrappy encounter to give Manchester United and manager Louis van Gaal a vital victory at Liverpool.
In a game that was a pale shadow of previous meetings between these two Premier League superpowers, Liverpool had the better chances and United keeper David de Gea kept his side in it with fine saves from Adam Lallana and Emre Can.
Jurgen Klopp’s side wasted other 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.
Van Gaal’s position had been under scrutiny after only two wins in United’s previous 11 games – but victory at Anfield is the perfect tonic and his team are now in fifth, just two points off the Champions League places.
Rooney’s status as United and England’s main man is often questioned – but once again he proved he remains, along with the outstanding De Gea, one of Van Gaal’s most crucial players.
The 30-year-old lifelong Evertonian relishes winning at Anfield, and his delight was plain to see after he hammered home his first goal here since January 2005.
It was further proof he is undergoing a rejuvenation after criticism earlier this season, scoring twice in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle United and the winning goals in the FA Cup third-round victory against Sheffield United and the league match with Swansea City.
The question may be asked again soon – but there is still no evidence to suggest the Red Devils are a better side without Rooney than with him.
Liverpool have shown signs of promise in two big games at Anfield this week – but only earned a point against Arsenal with an injury-time equaliser and were beaten here.
Klopp is still trying to impose his “gegenpressing” style on Liverpool and it has worked better away – in impressive wins at Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton and Stoke City – than it has at Anfield.
Liverpool were arguably the better team here but once again demonstrated a vulnerability to crosses and ran out of steam badly towards the end. The philosophy will not bear fruit until his defenders can clear a cross.
The struggles Klopp faces are summed up by the fact that, for the second game running, he was reduced to throwing defender Steven Caulker, a loan signing from QPR, on as a late substitute in attack.
The German has much work to do.
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