Van Gaal hails biggest win

MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal hailed one of the most important wins of his career after a 2–1 victory over 10–man Liverpool at Anfield opened up a five–point cushion in the race for Champions League football.

Juan Mata scored in each half, either side of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard getting sent off just 43

seconds after coming on as a substitute at the interval, and while Daniel Sturridge pulled a goal back, United could still afford to miss an added–time Wayne Rooney penalty.

The visitors were the dominant force in the first half, having got their tactics spot on, Van Gaal said they used Liverpool’s own strengths – their intent to press and attack at speed – against them.

“We beat them again with their own weapons and the pressure on the ball,” he said.

“Now the gap is five points ahead of Liverpool and six ahead of Tottenham and Southampton so the moment to win is one of the most important in my career.

“The first half was very good because I knew in advance Liverpool would press us and they did and we played them off the pitch. We scored a fantastic goal and gave nothing away so it was a superb first half. The second half we were not so good and that is amazing a little bit because we played 11 against 10 and it should be easier but it was not.”