5 things we learned from Man Utd's 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup
- Man Utd beat Liverpool 4-3 at Old Trafford
- Amad Diallo scored a dramatic 121st-minute winner for the Red Devils
- The win set up a semi-final clash with Coventry City at Wembley Stadium
Manchester United and Liverpool played out an all-time great FA Cup tie at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Seven goals, three extra-time goals, four lead changes, and a 121st-minute winner in front of a raucous Stretford End. Sunday's game had absolutely everything that we know and love about the beautiful game.
Here's everything we learned from the dramatic FA Cup quarter-final clash.
90min Man Utd WhatsApp channel
Looking to keep up to date with everything happening at Old Trafford? Click this link or scan the QR code below to follow 90min's Man Utd WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to receive all the latest news!
Amad Diallo deserves minutes
A lot was expected from Amad Diallo when he returned from his hyper successful spell on loan at Sunderland - in which he inspired the Black Cats to the brink of promotion. Fast forward eight months, and you wouldn't have been remiss for forgetting Amad was even on the books at Manchester United.
A serious knee injury ultimately scuppered the wide forward's ascension into the Red Devils first team in the first half of the 2023/24 season, and since returning to full fitness, Amad hasn't really had a look-in thanks to the impressive form of Alejandro Garnacho.
On Sunday, however, Amad was finally given a chance to show what he's capable of at Old Trafford by being afforded 35 minutes of football in Man Utd's biggest game of the season so far. And boy, oh boy, did he deliver.
The Ivorian scored the most important goal of the Erik ten Hag era, firing home in the 121st minute of the game to earn a famous 4-3 win for his side.
Expect his minutes to sky-rocket in the coming weeks.
Alexis Mac Allister is the signing of the summer
In the 2023 summer transfer window Moises Caicedo cost Chelsea £115m, and Alexis Mac Allister cost Liverpool £35m.
Having seen both footballers play for their new clubs, it's fair to say that that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
While Caicedo has been a rather dramatic (traumatic for Chelsea fans) flop, Mac Allister has been a genuine superstar since rocking up at Anfield.
Having slotted in as a de facto number six earlier in the season, the Argentine has finally been given the chance to play further up the park in recent weeks and he's thoroughly excelled in this role. On Sunday he was once again Liverpool's most effective creative force, teeing up his teammates for four chances and scoring a goal of his own.
Andre Onana is actually very good
Perhaps justifiably, Andre Onana received quite a bit of stick for his subpar performances when he first arrived at Old Trafford in the summer. In particular, his showings in the UEFA Champions League were facepalm inducing for Man Utd fans.
Since his return from the AFCON however, Onana has genuinely been quite good in between the sticks. His eight stunning saves in the second half were the only reason Man Utd had a fighting chance in the game on Sunday, and perhaps the only reason his team have anything left to play for this season at all.
Liverpool miss clinical Diogo Jota
While Onana was brilliant in the second half on Sunday, Liverpool really should have converted one of their many, many shots on goal during their period of sustained dominance.
And had Diogo Jota not been injured, they probably would've.
The Portugal international is out for an extended period of time due to a knee ligament injury and, without his clinical streak against top level opposition, the Reds have struggled to convert their dominance into emphatic wins.
We saw it in the draw with Man City and we saw it in the defeat to Man Utd - both games that the Reds controlled but weren't able to kill off due to the lack of a clinical finisher (Jota) up top.
Antony has a right foot
Yep, Antony has a right foot.
The £86m signing can kick a football with his right foot.
Who'd have thought it, eh?
For the fifth time in his entire career, the Brazilian winger was able to score a goal with his right foot on Sunday, striking with surprising control to draw Man Utd level late in ordinary time. Good job.
READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD
feed