4) Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool, Premier League 14-15 Season (14 December 2014)
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This was one of the less memorable games in terms of the quality of football on display. Liverpool were way down in 10th spot coming into this fixture, while United were sitting pretty at 3rd position in Van Gaal’s initial time at the club.
Liverpool were also missing Daniel Sturridge because of his injury troubles, while Mario Balotelli was in poor form. Rodgers opted to start Raheem Sterling as the lone striker. He also dropped Simon Mignolet in favour of Brad Jones, after a spate of errors from the Belgian.
Sterling scuffed his lines from a one-on-one opportunity with De Gea from a tame shot, and United capitalized from the ensuing counterattack – Rooney scored after a mazy dribble by Valencia on the right wing and a lovely ball played to his path across the box. Liverpool’s probing refused to bear fruit as their attempts were expertly kept out by an in-form De Gea in the United goal, and United scored a second goal from a cross. Mata looked to be in an offside position in replays, but the damage on the scoreline had been done.
De Gea’s calm, controlled demeanour in goal helped him keep out a few more one-on-chances from Sterling, as well as a close-range shot from substitute Balotelli which he brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar. Robin van Persie, subbed in during the second half, finished off the game for United following another defensive lapse from the Reds, leaving Brad Jones no chance at the near post from a Juan Mata ball.
Although United could not sustain their form after the Christmas period, they beat Liverpool rather easily to the Champions League spot by the end of the season.
