Fernandes’ brilliance leaves Klopp wondering when Liverpool nightmare will end
The man known as Bruno delivered the knockout blow to Liverpool to pile on the pain for Jurgen Klopp at Old Trafford.
Substitute Bruno Fernandes struck with a stunning free kick on 78 minutes to fire Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round and leave their bitter rivals wondering when their current nightmare is going to end.
The English champions contributed so much to a thrilling tie – but this will be of no consolation to Klopp, who has now seen his side win just one of their last seven games in all competitions.
Mo Salah scored twice to end his recent lean patch, while Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford responded for United as these two giants traded punches in a classic scrap.
But it was Fernandes who landed the killer one with his 16th goal of the season, to book United a home clash with West Ham and former boss David Moyes in the next round.
Both managers made five changes ahead of what felt like being a bigger game for the visitors than their hosts.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer chose to start Fernandes on the bench and handed a just a 10th start to Donny Van de Beek following his £35m move from Ajax last summer.
Rashford also returned, while Dean Henderson replaced David De Gea in goal and Edinson Cavani led the United attack against another makeshift defence from Klopp's men.
This included the inexperienced Rhys Williams, who lined up alongside Fabinho at centre back, while Salah and Roberto Firmino also returned.
On paper United appeared to be favourites against rivals who had not won an FA Cup game on this ground since 1921 – exactly 100 years ago.
No side had knocked the Reds out of the competition more than United had down the years, and it was Solskjaer's men who threatened first inside 10 minutes when Greenwood was allowed to charge down the right, but his shot was well blocked by Alisson.
But in a flash Klopp's men took the lead with a brilliant strike from Salah.
Firmino was the creator with a sublime pass that left Victor Lindelof floundering and allowed Salah to run onto it and beat Henderson with a clinical finish.
But the lead lasted just seven minutes before Greenwood fired United level, beating Alisson with an angled drive after Rashford's stunning crossfield pass sailed over James Milner's head and into the path of the England international.
In the process, the 19-year-old became the youngest United player to score the Reds since a certain Wayne Rooney, back in 2005.
Paul Pogba should have put United in front on 35 minutes but headed over the top from a Luke Shaw's corner, before curling a free kick just wide.
United were all over the visitors and it was no surprise when Rashford fired them ahead three minutes into the second half courtesy of a defensive blunder from Williams.
The teenager made a hash of intercepting Greenwood's ball forward and once Rashford raced clean through on Alisson's goal the outcome was inevitable.
Milner blew a golden chance to make it 2-2 when he blazed over, but made amends seconds later with a clever dummy to allow Salah to equalise with his second of the night.
But Fernandes settled things twelve minutes from time as the Reds' misery scaled new heights.
PLAYER RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Henderson 6; Wan-Bissaka 7, Lindelof 7, Maguire 7, Shaw 8; Pogba 6, McTominay 7; Greenwood 7 (Fred 66, 7), Van de Beek 5 (Fernandes 66, 7), RASHFORD 9 (Martial 86); Cavani 6 . Subs: De Gea, Mata, James, Telles, Matic, Tuanzebe.
UP NEXT: Sheffield United (h), Premier League, Wednesday.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 6, R Williams 5, Fabinho 6, Robertson 6; Milner 7, Thiago 7 (Shaqiri 81), Wijnaldum 6 (Mane 62, 6); SALAH 8, Firmino 7 (Origi 81), Jones 7. Subs: Kelleher, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Phillips, N Williams.
UP NEXT: Tottenham (a), Premier League, Thursday.
REFEREE: Craig Pawson 7
STAR MAN: MARCUS RASHFORD – Brilliant as usual.
STAR SHOCKER: RHYS WILLIAMS – Looked out of his depth.
MATCH RATING: 4
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