MX23RW : Monday, November 25 23:47:46| >> :60:74:74:
[monks data]
Manchester United logo
Premier League
Dec 14, 2014 at 1.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

3-0

Rooney (12'), Mata (40'), van Persie (71')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Half-Time Report: Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata put Manchester United in command

Manchester United take a 2-0 advantage into the break against Liverpool thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.

First-half goals from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata at the expense of bitter rivals Liverpool have left Manchester United on the verge of recording their sixth straight Premier League victory this afternoon.

Following a quiet opening to proceedings at Old Trafford, the game swung United's favour in an eventful 25-second period.

Adam Lallana threaded a low pass through to Raheem Sterling in the 12th minute, but the Liverpool attacker shot straight at David de Gea on his weaker left foot.

United immediately advanced up the pitch with Antonio Valencia, who beat Joe Allen for pace and trickery before picking out Rooney on the edge of the penalty area, and the home skipper found the bottom left hand corner of the net, with stand-in Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones wrong-footed.

Manchester United's Juan Mata scores against Liverpool on December 14, 2014© Getty Images

Sterling remained a threat as the half progressed, though, and it was he that had the away side's second meaningful attempt with 23 minutes played. The 20-year-old jinked on the outside of the returning Phil Jones, but once again he was denied by De Gea at the Spaniard's near post.

However, as Liverpool's search for an equalising goal continued, they fell further behind. Robin van Persie flicked on Ashley Young's inswinging cross and Mata headed home from an offside position five minutes before the break.

There was still enough time for Sterling to test De Gea once again with a header, but the United keeper won that duel for a third time to ensure that his side held a two-goal cushion at the interval.

ID:193703: cacheID:193703:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3792:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Juan Mata scores against Liverpool on December 14, 2014
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Man Utd 3-0 Liverpool - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!