Garner could feature against Southampton

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested James Garner could be involved again in Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton after the 17-year-old made his senior debut at Crystal Palace.

The Academy product was introduced for summer signing Fred in the closing stages of an excellent 3-1 victory for the Reds, a club record eighth successive win on the road.

A versatile youngster, who can operate at centre-back or in central midfield, Garner captains England at youth level.

“We’ve been waiting for that chance [to introduce him to the first team],” explained Solskjaer to MUTV. “Of course, now with Nemanja [Matic] and Ander [Herrera] injured, there’ll be more chances for Jimmy.

”We might even see him on Saturday against Southampton again.“

Speaking at his post-match press conference at Selhurst Park, Ole added: “I believe he has got the chance to have a great future. Of course, he has to keep working.

”He knows we believe in him. We have great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick. I know he's young and it's not fair on kids to compare them to great players like Michael was, but he's in the same mould. He can see the game, he plays simple passes. He sees through the lines, like Scott McTominay did tonight.

“Michael had pressure coming in after Roy Keane. So it's just the way it is at Manchester United.”

First-team coach Carrick has been helping to mentor Garner, offering him advice and tips on his game, and the boy from Birkenhead is continuing to make fine progress.

Tahith Chong was also on the bench in the capital, while Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes also travelled down with the squad.

Romelu Lukaku enters Premier League's top-20 scorers

Romelu Lukaku continues to make his mark on English football as the Belgian striker entered the Premier League's top 20 goalscorers after his brace against Crystal Palace.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played the striker through the middle at Selhurst Park and it didn't take him long to open the scoring as he curled in a right-footed shot from just inside the box. Romelu's second goal was even better, as he volleyed in from close range to put Solskjaer's side into a two-goal lead.

Those goals saw Lukaku notch his 110th and 111th goals in the Premier League and moves him into joint-20th place of the all-time scorers alongside former United frontman, Dion Dublin.

Romelu has been a goal machine since he arrived in England in 2011. In the last eight years, he has scored for Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion and Everton before arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2017. In fact, it is the seventh consecutive season that Lukaku has reached double figures of Premier League goals, further emphasising his quality when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net.

Of course, Wayne Rooney remains as the Reds' top scorer in the Premier League era with 208 goals while Andy Cole lies in third overall with 187. Alan Shearer still leads the way with 260. Former forwards for the club in Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, Robin van Persie and Dwight Yorke are also amongs the elite.

Another two goals for the Belgian would see him move ahead of former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, into 19th place.

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP SCORERS

1. Alan Shearer - 260 goals
2. Wayne Rooney - 208
3. Andy Cole - 187
4. Frank Lampard - 177
5. Thierry Henry - 175
6. Robbie Fowler - 163
7. Jermain Defoe - 162
8. Sergio Aguero - 161
9. Michael Owen - 150
10. Les Ferdinand - 149
11. Teddy Sheringham - 146
12. Robin van Persie - 144
13. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - 127
14. Robbie Keane - 126
15. Nicolas Anelka - 125
16. Harry Kane - 123
16. Dwight Yorke - 123
18. Steven Gerrard - 120
19. Ian Wright - 113
20. Dion Dublin - 111
20. Romelu Lukaku - 111

*Current and former United players in bold.

Lukaku: Wins like Palace could prove vital

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has said wins like the one against Crystal Palace could prove crucial in the Reds’ top-four fight.

United ran out as 3-1 winners in the Premier League clash on Wednesday at Selhurst Park, and with Arsenal and Chelsea also picking up three points on the same night it was important not to lose pace with our closest rivals.

The win means we are still fifth in the table, just a point behind Arsenal in fourth and two ahead of sixth-place Chelsea.

Lukaku, who bagged a brace against the Eagles, knows how vital his goals could prove come the end of the season.

“Games like this, you have to win,” the Belgian frontman told MUTV after the latest triumph for the in-form Reds.

“I’m excited for the next couple of weeks because, with the players we have, we’re going to get results and, when the injured players come back, hopefully they can give us the push that we need to finish as high as possible in the league.”

It was Lukaku who got the Reds up and running on Wednesday when he broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark.

The 25-year-old showed great composure and razor-sharp reactions as he quickly shifted the ball onto his right foot and bent it past the helpless Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.

“I noticed that there was a bit of space on my right side, so I just adjusted and bang. It was a good goal,” he said.

“I worked a lot on my left and right since I was little, so when the ball comes into the box, I don’t hesitate on my left, on my right, or my head. I’m really happy with the win and I’m happy to get two goals as well.”

Rom found the back of the net again after the break and, in doing so, netted his 10h league goal of the campaign.

The strike also means he has become one of the top 20 all-time Premier League goalscorers. His 111th goal means he is now level with former Red Dion Dublin in joint-20th place.

To top off a great evening, Rom’s two-goal haul against the Eagles saw him named Man of the Match by our fans with 65 per cent of the vote, ahead of Luke Shaw (28%) and Ashley Young (7%).

“I was just hoping for a chance to play as a centre forward and I got the chance today and I’m really happy that I helped the team win the game,” said Lukaku.

“It doesn’t matter if I play left, right or up front, I always try and do my best for the team. As long as the team win and I can contribute to the win, I am happy.”

The victory for United on Wednesday set a new club record of eight consecutive away victories, something Lukaku believes the squad should be immensely proud of.

“It was a really good achievement if you look at the teams we played against. Everybody was doubting us but we responded in the way that Manchester United always should respond - by winning games and dominating.”

Ole: 'We controlled the game'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with how his Manchester United side controlled the game as the Reds won 3-1 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku, either side of half-time, set Solskjaer's side on our way, before the hosts pulled one back through a diving header from Joel Ward. United restored the two-goal cushion when Ashley Young finished from a tight angle which ensured United picked up an eighth consecutive away win in all competitions - a club record.

Speaking after the game to BBC Sport, MUTV and in his post-match press conference, the caretaker manager evaluated the performance along with the goals by Lukaku and Young.

THERE WAS NO COMPLACENCY

“It's a great away win. We controlled it well. That's a few away wins on the bounce. There was no complacency whatsoever. Everyone was really focused before the game. We started the game well. We should have scored early on from a corner-kick, Rom, but then, after 1-0, I thought we controlled the game.

”We defended our box well. Crystal Palace only had one shot on target today, that was the goal, so you’ve got to say our defending is improving all the time.”

HARD-WORKING LUKAKU

“They were very good finishes from Romelu. The first one was with his right foot. The second one, he’s had a lot to do there and a great finish, so I'm very pleased for Romelu. He’s played wide-right, wide-left. He’s worked a lot defensively for us and, this time, he got the no.9 shirt and got some good goals.”

THREAT OUT WIDE

”We want Luke [Shaw] to go forward, that’s the next step for him, to trust himself more going forward, but, then again, it was down to the shape we played with today because Anthony [Martial] wasn’t fit so we played Alexis [Sanchez] in a more central position with Rom and I thought it worked well with Diogo [Dalot] on the right on the other side.

“Diogo has played as a winger in Porto when he was younger and he has got skills going forward, but of course he did help stop [Patrick] van Aanholt and [Wilfried] Zaha - they have a good left-hand side, Palace.”

A DEBUT FOR GARNER

“We’ve been waiting for that chance. Of course with Nemanja and Ander injured there’ll be more chances for Jimmy. He is in the mould of a top top central midfielder so he will come good. We will see him again soon. We might even see him on Saturday against Southampton.

”It's Manchester United, we do have a quality squad and quality players and we will continue to bring players through. Every team in the league will have injuries at this time of the season.“

YOUNG'S GOAL

”I think he was happy getting that goal. Of course, he’s been doing great as a full-back, but I thought we could shut up shop with Eric [Bailly] at the back and then Ash and Rashy [Marcus Rashford] either side would be counter-attacking threats, so it worked out well.”

COPING WITH ZAHA AND TOWNSEND

“They are good players individually, they try to go inside, they try to take you on one-on-one. How many penalties have they won, those two, with their skills and trickery so the focus in the defending was great. You have to stay on your feet and don't lunge in. We gave them the goal though. We could have cleared that a few times but the response after they scored was fantastic.”

EIGHT AWAY WINS ON THE SPIN

“We’ve been great away from home, I have to say. The fans have been fantastic, but the team’s been set up well. They’ve known they have to work hard, we need to defend and counter-attack quickly. We can control the game when we’re winning, so I'm very pleased with our form.”

Premier League: Crystal Palace 1 Man. United 3

A Romelu Lukaku brace and an Ashley Young strike secured a club-record eighth consecutive away win in all competitions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park.

The Reds led at the break through Lukaku's neat finish and doubled the advantage when the Belgian hooked home superbly, following headers by Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof.

Although Joel Ward pulled one back with a diving header, skipper Young made the points safe with a firm finish from a tight angle in the closing stages.

Solskjaer was forced to make three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Sunday. Fred, Diogo Dalot and Alexis Sanchez came in for injured trio Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford, though the latter recovered enough for a place on the bench.

The Reds, resplendent in pink at Selhurst Park, had the first real opportunity inside the opening 10 minutes. Shaw’s excellent corner found Lukaku, who had lost his marker. The Belgian made good contact on the volley but his effort went just over the bar.

Palace responded with a near-miss themselves, Andros Townsend putting James McArthur’s low cross high and wide of David De Gea’s right-hand post from close range.

The Reds who took the lead just after the half-hour mark through Lukaku. Shaw, again the provider, skipped past Townsend and had the Palace defence retreating into the penalty box. The left-back laid the ball off to our no. 9 who sorted his feet out well on the edge of the area, had one touch to set, and then curled a precise effort into the bottom-right corner catching Vicente Guaita by surprise.

Townsend, renowned for scoring stunning long-range goals, was the hosts' biggest threat. Creating space for himself just outside the area, he fired a low left-footed effort just wide before putting in a teasing cross for Jeffrey Schlupp, who couldn't direct his effort on target.

United were quick to put Palace under pressure after half-time. Diogo Dalot, playing in an advanced role, found space on the right to deliver a decent cross which Paul Pogba will perhaps be disappointed he headed over.
It wasn’t long before the Reds, and Lukaku, had our second, though. Palace failed to clear from a corner, with Smalling and Lindelof getting their heads to the ball before any of their counterparts. Lindelof’s header fell to Lukaku who did well to swivel and direct a left-footed effort over Guaita.

As the hosts found to their cost last year, 2-0 can be a dangerous scoreline and, this time, it was United who were made to sweat. Ward’s diving header at the back post from Schlupp’s dangerous cross gave Roy Hodgson’s side hope on 65 minutes and it was Palace who looked the more likely to score again in the following 10 minutes.

Max Meyer, on for James McArthur, forced David De Gea’s first save of the evening and a Luka Milivojevic free-kick brushed the side-netting.
However, Young made sure of the three points in the 83rd minute. Lovely interplay between Pogba and Lukaku on the edge of the area allowed Pogba time to slot a ball through to Young, and the captain drilled a low effort across goal, with Ward unable to keep it out on the line.

James Garner came on as a late substitute to make his senior debut and this will be a special night for the 17-year-old midfielder, and the travelling fans who made themselves heard throughout in the capital.

MATCH DETAILS
United: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred (Garner 89); Dalot (Bailly 76), Pogba, Sanchez (Rashford 76); Lukaku.

Subs not used: Romero, Rojo, A. Pereira, Chong.

Scorers: Lukaku 33,52 Young 83

Booked: Alexis, Shaw, Lukaku.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Kelly, Ward, Tomkins, van Aanholt (Kouyate 82), Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur (Meyer 61), Schlupp, Zaha, Batshuayi (Benteke 78).

Subs not used: Hennessey, Dann, Riedewald, Ayew.

Scorers: Ward 66.

Booked: Kelly, Zaha.

NEXT UP

United entertain Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday at 15:00 GMT

Solskjaer: Every game is going to be important

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is embracing the battle for a top-four spot in the Premier League and believes that every single game between now and 12 May will be vital in helping the Reds reach this objective.

Going into the latest round of Premier League fixtures, United lie in fifth position but could regain a spot inside the top four with a win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, if Arsenal simultaneously drop points against Bournemouth.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Solskjaer was adamant that every single game will matter between now and the end of the campaign, with some big fixtures still to come including Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

“Yeah, it'll be exciting,” he said. “Obviously, we've got Chelsea at home, we've got Arsenal away, and Tottenham and Chelsea play each other on Wednesday. There are going to be so many games that matter in the end, because I don't think there'll be many points between fourth, fifth and sixth places.

“The players will have a say on how we play for the rest of the season. We need to keep going, keep progressing, keep getting results, keep getting the crowd behind us, because we need that. We need to fight from now until the end of the season.”

One of the ways in which United have thrust themselves into top-four contention over the last two months is through an improved goals-against record. The Reds have kept seven clean sheets in the league this season with five of these coming after Solskjaer's appointment in December. The Norwegian believes that the players have been working hard in training on their organisation and the fruits of their labour are clear for all to see.

“Yeah, we've spent a lot of time on the structure and the shape, how we defend,“ he said. ”The first few games maybe didn't give us too many challenges in that respect, but then we went to Arsenal. You could see how we were pulled all over the place in midfield and our back four were like battering rams. The midfield shape has improved a lot which has helped the back four to play as a back four and not be scattered all over the place.“

League form aside, United are in the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup and have a Champions League last-16 second leg fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon. While every fan is eager for the Reds to reclaim a spot in the top four and qualify for the Champions League again next season, Solskjaer was eager to point out that the culture of United is still all about winning trophies.

“As I've said many times before, every day here is a chance to improve your standards and we need to get back to the standards that are set for a Man United player.

“We can't say that we're happy with just top four, although a top-four finish would be fantastic, but to get to the final in the FA Cup and win a trophy would be brilliant. So, you can't pick and choose.

“We’ve just got to make sure now against Palace that we're ready. Then it's Southampton, PSG, Arsenal and Wolves. Every game is going to be important.”

Young Reds in Ole's squad for Selhurst Park

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says three Manchester United youngsters could be given a chance to shine under the Selhurst Park floodlights on Wednesday night.

An injury crisis has suddenly gripped the squad ahead of the midweek Premier League match against Crystal Palace, yet our caretaker manager is viewing it as an opportunity to blood some talent from the club's Academy ranks.

While other football bosses may be nervous of throwing young players into the mix at this stage of the season, Ole knows he can rely on the quality of prospects in the Under-23s and Under-18s.

The likes of Jimmy Garner, Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong are set to be in the squad that travels to the London fixture and Ole is looking forward to seeing the younger players express themselves on a bigger stage.

“Yeah, the kids are joining in today [in training], so they'll be involved in the squad,” said Ole, at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday morning.

“They've been part of our training for a long time now.

“Angel [Gomes], he’s been successful with England's Under-17s, with [Jadon] Sancho, [Callum] Hudson-Odoi and [Phil] Foden, so he's been a big part of that,” he added, referring to three well-known young players from Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.

“I’m definitely sure that if Angel gets a chance he'll do well.”

Gomes has already faced Palace in the Premier League - he was one of a number of Academy players who made their debuts in the 2-0 win against the Eagles on the final day of the 2016/17 season.

The attacker also featured for Ole earlier this campaign, when he was introduced as late substitute against Huddersfield Town during our 3-1 Boxing Day victory.

Solskjaer gave Chong his first-team debut in a 2-0 FA Cup win against Reading last month, while Garner was selected among the substitutes, so the Norwegian knows the quality the duo possess.

“Jimmy Garner, he's a Michael Carrick, but 20 years younger, so I'm sure he'll do well and Chongy, he'll definitely be taking people on if he comes on, but they're ready, these kids.

“It's hard when you're a defender coming on, if you're 16 or 17, but as an attacker you just go out there and express yourself and there's your chance. They can win you the game, you don't lose it for you.”

Should the trio need an example of how important youth-team players are to the United senior squad, they need only look to Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Five of the 14 players who featured for the Reds last weekend had progressed from the Academy into the first team and Ole singled out Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira for praise after their performances against Liverpool.

“Scott and Andy, I thought they did fantastic,” the boss said. “So there you go, that's the way it is. You've just got to be ready when you get the chance.”

Our hosts Crystal Palace head into Wednesday’s game in good from. Roy Hodgson's men have not lost any of their last six games in all competitions and last time out, the Eagles disposed of Leicester City with an emphatic 4-1 scoreline.

“They are very, very good and, of course, the game against Leicester, that win was impressive,” said Ole.

“The way Roy sets up his teams, we know that we have to be good on the ball, we have to break them down. And we know that on the counter attack, with [Wilfried] Zaha, [Andros] Townsend, if it's [Michy] Batshuayi, [Christian] Benteke, whoever it is up front, they've got some pace and counter-attacking threat, so we've got to be at our best.”

Ole's injury update for Palace trip

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given an extensive update on his squad's health ahead of Wednesday's match away to Crystal Palace.

United lost three players - Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and substitute Jesse Lingard - to injury during the first half of Sunday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, while Nemanja Matic did not start the match.

Additionally, there were concerns over Marcus Rashford, who appeared to limp through much of the game after receiving a heavy challenge in the first few minutes.

“Well, the three we had to take off [Herrera, Lingard, Mata], they're not going to be ready,” Solskjaer told MUTV.

“As for Rashy [Marcus Rashford], we're going to work on him for as long as we can to see if he gets ready because that wasn't as bad as we first feared, so luckily I don't think we damaged it any more by him finishing the game.

“He might have a chance of playing. Then again I don't think there'll be anyone else coming back for this game. So there'll be a chance for the kids.”

Speaking in his press conference, Solskjaer added: “Matteo [Darmian] trained the other day, I don't think he'll be ready yet, because he trained yesterday.

“Marcos [Rojo] has been training, so hopefully will be involved. The muscle injuries - it's still early to think about them. There are quite a few players out.”

The Norwegian also confirmed Phil Jones will be absent from the journey to south London.

“Phil has been ill, so he's been out for a little while as well with an illness, but luckily at centre-back position there's quite a few fit ones. Eric, Chris and Victor, the three of them, they're ready.”

On whether Anthony Martial or Antonio Valencia could return, Solskjaer told reporters at the Aon Training Complex:

“Valencia is a bit off, because he did his calf again, so he's still a few weeks off. He's started running, but he's still a few weeks off.

“Martial is not going to be ready for this one either. We can't risk it, so maybe [he'll be back for] Southampton but we're not going to risk another one too early.

“In hindsight maybe you can say Jesse was eager, he ticked all the boxes in training, had done all the recovery work and rehab, but maybe it was a couple of days too early, but then again it was Liverpool and he was desperate to be a part of it.”

HOW ABOUT CRYSTAL PALACE?

Like Ole's Reds, the Eagles come into Wednesday's match full of confidence, after thrashing Leicester 4-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, in what proved to be Claude Puel's final match as the Foxes manager.

Two goals and a Man of the Match performance from Wilfried Zaha mean the former United winger is back to his best, but Palace boss Roy Hodgson does have some injury concerns.

Mamadou Sakho did not finish the game at Leicester, and will require a medical assessment, while highly-rated young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed the game entirely due to a hamstring problem.

Martin Kelly (muscle strain) was also unavailable, while Connor Wickham and Pape Souare are more long-term absentees.

Lukaku happy with any role in Solskjaer's attack

Romelu Lukaku is ready to play anywhere Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants him to, in a bid to answer Manchester United’s potential injury problems in attack ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League match at Crystal Palace.

Marcus Rashford finished the 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool with his ankle “like a balloon” according to the Reds' caretaker manager.

Anthony Martial was unable to make it back into the squad for Sunday's match, following his groin injury that forced him to also miss the Emirates FA Cup win at Chelsea.

It could leave Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez as United’s only senior forwards for the trip to Selhurst Park.

Lukaku has been used in a wide right role while Rashford has been in the central position lately but the Belgian is content to do whatever job is asked of him.

“Left, right or up front, it doesn’t matter to me,“ Romelu told the media after the Liverpool game.

”Playing for this club is an honour and I just try to do my best in whichever position I play in. If it is on the right then I will try to create chances, which I did against Liverpool, and if it is up front then I will try to score goals.

“At the end of the day I just try and help my team-mates out and try to win matches.

“As long as the manager wants to use me I will do my best to help the team out. We have a number of injuries but we have to stay positive and have that positive mentality.

“We are Manchester United and we have to go and win wherever.”

The resolve of Solskjaer's men was certainly tested against Jurgen Klopp’s side in Sunday’s 0-0 draw after three players had to go off in the first half through injury, including Jesse Lingard who himself had come on as a substitute to replace Juan Mata.

However, those three changes and major reshuffles in the space of 22 first-half minutes couldn’t fully disrupt a dogged United team.

“You always want to win big games like this but for us it was about being mentally strong after having players injured. We had to be resilient and keep trying to score,” said Lukaku.

“You just have to adapt. We had players coming off the bench who were trying to help out the team. You have to make sure those coming on help out the team and that is what we tried and that is what we did. Credit to them who came in and did their job. We were resilient.

“We had some close chances but it was all about mental strength, making sure we didn’t lose and grabbing at least the point. Obviously you want to win but now we have to move forward and focus on Crystal Palace.

“Roy Hodgson will set up his Palace team really well. We know that. We will prepare and we need to recover properly because today was a physical game. Tactically and with our preparations we will be ready to go again.”

United’s defence nullified one of the Premier League’s most dangerous strike forces in Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino (replaced in the first half by Daniel Sturridge) and Sadio Mane.

It meant another clean sheet for David De Gea, who racked up his century of shut-outs in the Premier League, and Lukaku was quick to praise his team's rearguard.

“That is what Ole wants from us. Everybody is talking about us being offensively really good but defensively we are doing really well,” added the Belgian.

“Chris (Smalling), coming back in for the last couple of games, has been brilliant and Luke Shaw has been the best player of the season for me. Ashley Young has been consistent and David De Gea is the best number one in the world.

“From the midfield to the front we try to help out and make sure the defence has an easy task. We did that against Liverpool and it was all about the team.”

Lukaku picks his Player of the Season so far

Romelu Lukaku had a hunch during the World Cup that one of his Manchester United colleagues was in for a brilliant personal campaign.

While the Belgian was in Russia for the tournament he kept getting messages from Luke Shaw in the United States. The content of those messages convinced Lukaku that the defender was ready to storm back to form.

Shaw was voted United's Man of the Match against Liverpool but Romelu believes the Reds' left-back is worthy of an even higher personal honour.

“Luke Shaw has been the best player of the season for me,” Lukaku told reporters after Sunday's match.

“He has been brilliant since the start. Throughout the summer we kept in touch and I remember when he was in New York he was sending me videos of him running on the treadmill.

“I was in Russia for the World Cup and I got these videos and I saw someone who was going to come back and be good.

“He scored in the first game of the season against Leicester City and he has never looked back.

“He has always had the potential of being one of the best left-backs in the world, from the time when I used to play against him when he was at Southampton to now.

“He has had his injuries but he’s playing regularly now and I am really happy for him. I hope he is going to keep on delivering.

“You cannot look at Luke as a prospect now, at his age he is a top player and is consistent. What more do you want from him?”

However, Shaw himself reckons there is more to come, even though he completely outmanoeuvred and nullified the Premier League’s joint top scorer Mo Salah, who has 17 goals to his name this season for Liverpool. The Egyptian was so outplayed and kept quiet that Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp eventually substituted him in the 79th minute of Sunday’s 0-0 Old Trafford draw.

So does Luke feel it was one of his best performances for United?

“Defensively definitely, yeah, but these are the games that you want to try and step up in, you want to try and prove why you're here,” said Luke.

“You've just got to enjoy it and you've got to take it as it comes.


”You want to play against the best, you want to test yourself against the best and I want to keep doing that in my career.


“I'm still quite young. There's always room to improve and that's what I want to do, keep improving and see what happens.

“I think I've still got another level to come. I don't think I am really at my best and I know what I can do when I'm at my best.


”Of course I am happy with how it went against Liverpool but there's still more to come from me especially and that's me being honest.


”I feel I can do more but the only thing I need to focus on is myself, keeping myself in the right condition and keep pushing myself every day and trying to become what I want to be.


“There are a few things in my mind that I know I can do, but I need to do more of it. But that's something for me and I need to do that myself.


“Like I said, I just want to keep working hard and the most important thing in football is to keep enjoying it.
 At the moment, everyone at this club is doing that and it's great to be around the place.”

Mata: I was injured... but had to stop Salah!

Today I am writing this back at home, disappointed to not have been able to finish the game, but proud of the bravery and strength that my teammates showed as they gave everything on the pitch to take a point that looked incredibly hard to secure at the end of the first half.

Everything possible seemed to happen to us.

If there is a game that no United players want to miss, it is when we play Liverpool, but you have to accept that injuries are a part of the sport.

Luckily, I can’t remember having faced a similar situation in a game and that is after more than 12 years as a professional, it is the first time that a muscular injury has forced me off during a match.

In reality, I have to be grateful, as it is an uncommon record for a football player, but this one came during a derby. It was a shame, and on top of that it wasn’t the only injury – Ander and Jesse both had to go off for the same reason.

It was incredible that all of this happened in just the first half. It wasn’t the dream start we’d imagined for such a big game, but the team competed well despite the injuries and we even had the better goalscoring chances.

In terms of my own injury problem, I could feel something for a few minutes and I hope that I didn’t make it worse when racing to stop Salah on the counter at attack (I had to do it!).

I’m hoping it isn’t anything serious. I will do everything that I can to get back as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for all of your support and for all of the messages that have wished me a speedy recovery. I hope you all have a great week.

Hugs,

Juan.

You can read my full blog post here on my website, JuanMata8.com.

The week ahead for Manchester United

It's another busy week for Manchester United, with our first team facing two Premier League matches while our Under-23s and Under-18s are in action too. Here’s everything you need to keep an eye on from Monday 25 February to Sunday 2 March...

MONDAY

We're continuing to reflect on Sunday’s tense Premier League draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, with Juan Mata's weekly blog bringing us the latest on his injury after he joined Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard in having to leave the field in the first half.

In the evening, Ricky Sbragia’s Under-23s face Reading at Leigh Sports Village, in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup. The game begins at 19:00 GMT and will be shown live on MUTV.

Meanwhile, Monday also marks three years since Marcus Rashford made his unforgettable debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League. The striker netted twice against the Danish outfit and memorably helped to secure our spot in the last 16 of the Europa League.

It's also the 38th birthday of our still-popular Korean legend, Ji-sung Park. Many happy returns, Ji!

TUESDAY

It's time for another United legend's birthday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turns 46. Whether the Norwegian will have time to celebrate, we're not sure, as our caretaker manager will be holding his pre-match press conference ahead of our midweek trip to Crystal Palace. Look out for team news when he's asked about the fitness of Herrera, Lingard and Mata among others.

Not that our fans ever need an excuse to don their United tops, but Tuesday is officially National Wear Red Day. In the UK, the event encourages everyone to wear something red in order to show their support for raising awareness of heart disease.

WEDNESDAY

The Reds play a second Premier League game in four days by returning to the scene of one of our greatest away wins from last season. It’s just under a year since United last travelled to Selhurst Park, when second-half goals from Chris Smalling, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic helped us mount a comeback from two goals down to triumph 3-2.

Solskjaer will be aiming to set a new club record by steering his side to an eighth consecutive away victory in all competitions. We've won every match on the road since he was appointed in December, just before the emphatic 5-1 victory at Cardiff.

THURSDAY

Today marks the anniversary of the 3-2 win over Arsenal in 2016, when Marcus Rashford scored twice on his Premier League debut to propel the team to a dramatic success over the Gunners. A deflected Ander Herrera strike proved the decisive goal, cancelling out strikes by United Academy graduate Danny Welbeck and World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.

FRIDAY

Ole is likely to be in front of the press again on Friday morning, as we get set for Saturday’s home match against Southampton. The Saints remain locked in a battle for survival at the bottom of the Premier League table, but have proved to be difficult opponents for many leading sides, especially since the arrival of manager Ralph Hasenhüttl. The man known as ‘the Klopp of the Alps’ will be the third consecutive German manager to occupy the away dugout at Old Trafford, following Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Tuchel.

Elsewhere, the Under-23s take on Norwich (19:00 GMT) at Leigh Sports Village, and it's the 23rd birthday of Lizzie Arnot from our high-flying women's team. Their next match is still nine days away at this point, on Sunday 10 March at home to Leicester City Women.

SATURDAY

The Under-18s kick off our competitive weekend by facing West Bromwich Albion at the Aon Training Complex (11:30 GMT), before the first team take on Southampton at Old Trafford (15:00 GMT). It’s also the anniversary of the debut of our all-time record appearance maker, Ryan Giggs. The first of the Welshman’s 963 games saw him come on for Denis Irwin in the 35th minute of a First Division defeat to Everton in 1991. His final appearance came in 2014 during a 3-1 win over Hull City when he was also caretaker boss.

SUNDAY

We'll keep reacting to Saturday’s game against Southampton, and also celebrate 20 years since the first leg of our epic win over Internazionale in the quarter-final of the 1998/99 Champions League. A very simple formula helped United to a 2-0 victory on a boisterous night at Old Trafford: two David Beckham crosses and two Dwight Yorke headers helped us to edge closer to our first final in the competition since 1968.

How the crowd became United's fourth sub

Following Manchester United’s battling stalemate with Liverpool at Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer passionately declared his team's supporters were the “12th man” and no wonder.

Minutes before kick-off, I commented in our official app that the atmosphere inside Old Trafford was “raucous” with the home supporters producing a level of noise that I hadn't heard at the stadium for some time. The pre-match sounds were to set the tone for what was to come.

It was a bizarre first half in truth, with four substitutions - three for us, one for Liverpool - all being made within a 25-minute period. Battered and bruised, United were forced to make a triple first-half change as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, himself a sub, were all injured.

The visitors lost one of their fabled front trio, Roberto Firmino, but it still seemed that the second half would be more arduous for our heroes given we had no more reinforcements to call upon. We needed a boost - and the home fans provided it.

Our “12th man” most notably rose to roar Paul Pogba’s sliding tackle on 49 minutes, before the excellent Luke Shaw nullified the Premier League’s top goalscorer Mo Salah yet again with a crucial interception on the left and the crowd again showed their appreciation. Pogba then went close to scoring with a header before Alexis Sanchez did likewise minutes later which only helped add to the build-up of noise.

Just short of the hour mark was probably the time when we all realised what an awesome atmosphere we were experiencing. Following the spell of pressure described above, Alexis had just acutely turned away from two Liverpool players deep inside his own half before setting up his side for a typical United counter attack. Unfortunately, nothing came of it on the field, but just off the pitch, via a little bit of orchestration from the hands of first-team coach Mike Phelan, a statement had been made. The Old Trafford crowd was alive and the visitors seemed engulfed by it.

The crowd was so loud that at one point, Solskjaer seemed to struggle to get his instructions across from the technical area to Luke Shaw who was only yards away.

The fans had previously been praised following last Monday's away win over Chelsea in the Emirates FA Cup, with Michael Carrick tweeting: “To every single one of you behind the goal last night. Non-stop from start to finish. The noise and energy was incredible. Would have loved to be in there myself. Thank you. Same again Sunday please.”

The United supporters certainly answered Carrick's call and nobody would be surprised if the faithful deliver yet again on Wednesday evening, when we're back on the road to take on Crystal Palace.

The views of this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily represent those of Manchester United Football Club.

Shaw named star man in Liverpool draw

Luke Shaw was named as Manchester United's Man of the Match after his display against Liverpool earned him 60 per cent of the votes.

On a day when United's defenders had to be on top of their game against a powerful Liverpool side, they duly delivered with both Shaw and his back-four colleague Victor Lindelof being nominated for the accolade. The Englishman and the Swede were joined on the Man of the Match shortlist by forward Marcus Rashford, who valiantly played the full 90 minutes despite sustaining an early injury.

Shaw dealt with the threat of Mohamed Salah so well, the Egyptian attacker was eventually substituted by Jurgen Klopp with just over 10 minutes to play.

“I am happy, not just for me but for the whole team,” Shaw told MUTV after the game.

“For the way we defended especially as a team. We know how good Liverpool are, with their attacking threat, but I think it was not just about the back five, I thought our whole team was brilliant. I think we played our game plan to perfection and I think we were unlucky not to win today.

”These are the games and the players you want to be playing against to test yourself. You want to keep improving as a player, so it was nice to have that challenge and hopefully there are many more to come in my career.“

Shaw also received plaudits from his caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who spoke of the impact the left-back had on the game, specifically when nullifying the threat of one of Liverpool's most creative players.

“When they took Salah off at a time when they still needed a goal, you know how well Shaw has played. I’ve got to say I was very pleased with [all] the defending.”

Sunday's poll victory for Luke can be added to the Player and Goal of the Month awards he received earlier in the campaign. He scooped both prizes in August for his performances in United's defence and his winning strike against Leicester on the opening day of the season, and he was voted Player of the Month again in September.

United dealt triple injury blow

Manchester United were dealt a triple injury blow in the goalless draw against Liverpool, after Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and substitute Jesse Lingard were all forced to leave the field during the first half.

The situation meant United became the first Premier League team to make three substitutions in the first half since Burnley had to do it in January 2015, in a game against Newcastle United.

Herrera was the first player to depart after 20 minutes, as he went down holding his hamstring. The Spaniard was replaced by Andreas Pereira.

Mata followed his compatriot back to the dressing room five minutes later after he was injured in a challenge from James Milner. United's no.8 had initially hobbled on and he successfully denied Mo Salah a goalscoring chance, but he was then replaced by Lingard.

After being called on earlier than he would have anticipated, Lingard soon went down himself, clutching his hamstring after an incident in which he almost broke the deadlock. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson did well to smother at his feet after he so nearly latched on to Romelu Lukaku’s through ball. Our no.14 did not recover and he had to give up his place to Alexis Sanchez on 40 minutes, just 15 minutes after coming on.

United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer subsequently revealed that Marcus Rashford had also picked up an injury, to his ankle inside the first minute.

“We probably we should have taken Marcus off as well,” admitted the Norwegian, in his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

“He was injured in the first minute, with the first tackle they made on him – one of plenty. [Jordan] Henderson went through him, his ankle is like a balloon, and that was one of many fouls on him. If that’s not an accumulation of fouls I don’t know [what is].”

When asked if he was worried that Rashford could have made the injury worse by playing on, Solskjaer said: “Very, but he’s a warrior and he’s a Manc and he knows what this means. We had to keep him on, because we already had to make three subs.

”You’re never surprised in football. You’ve always got to be ready for anything, [even] losing three players in the first half with hamstring injuries.“

Despite the injuries, Solskjaer is confident he will still be able to select a strong side to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening at Selhurst Park.

”We’ve lost a few with muscle injuries, hamstrings, but we’ve got some good kids coming through, so don’t worry about it,“ he said defiantly. ”We’ll have 11 players on the pitch on Wednesday night as well. Luckily we’ve got two days of recovery.”

Solskjaer: The fans were our twelfth man

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was overwhelmed with the level of support from the Manchester United faithful as his side fought valiantly to claim a well-earned point against Liverpool.

The caretaker manager had to make his full complement of substitutions in the first half with Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all suffering injuries. Marcus Rashford was also hurt, within minutes of the kick-off, and had to play on.

Despite these setbacks, United came closest to breaking the deadlock with Lingard, Chris Smalling and Rashford all having attempts, while Liverpool barely gave David De Gea anything to do at the other end.

Speaking to Sky Sports and MUTV after the game, Solskjaer discussed the injuries, the importance of the fans and briefly looked ahead to Wednesday night's game against Crystal Palace.

THE CROWD WERE FANTASTIC
“Today we saw Man United's team spirit and togetherness, the crowd and us together. I have to say we keep praising the away fans when we come back with a win, but today the [home] fans were unbelievable. For the whole 90 minutes. The fans, they were the 12th man today.”

WE HAD THE BEST CHANCES
“We've come out with so many positives. I cannot remember David having to make a save, so we kept them out of it and we probably created one or two massive moments that we could have scored. Chris, if he was a striker, he would have got his studs on that one. Jesse’s chance, before he got the recurrence of his injury, was the biggest.”

INJURY UPDATE
“We’ve got a good squad, a strong squad. Players will come in and want to do a job. You can see the team spirit in the dressing room after [the game]. We know we didn’t play particularly well, but we defended so doggedly and as a team.”

RASHFORD THE WARRIOR
”Marcus is a warrior and he’s a Manc and he knows what this game means. We had to keep him on, because we already had to make three subs. It seemed like it was their plan, to just kick him, because they kept kicking him from the first minute. If that’s not an accumulation of fouls I don’t know. But he stayed on. His ankle is like a balloon, so it was a fantastic attitude by him. He’s angry, because of how many fouls they did on him.“

MCTOMINAY STEPPED UP TO THE MARK
“Scotty played fantastic. He’s played in these games before, big games, and he’s got a big-game mentality. He's an Academy kid who was up for the game when I put the challenge to him.”

PRAISE FOR THE DEFENCE
“Chris [Smalling] and Victor [Lindelof] are fantastic centre-backs and they defended really well. On Luke Shaw, when they took Salah off and they still needed a goal, you know how well he’s played. I’ve got to say I'm very pleased with the defending. We know we’ve got to perform better with the ball. We can play better, but then again I thought Paul [Pogba] was outstanding. Everything he did there was a thought behind it, so he stepped up again.”

BACK IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY
“Well, we’ve lost a few players with muscle injuries, hamstrings, but we’ve got some good kids coming through, so don’t worry about it. We’ll have 11 players on the pitch on Wednesday night as well. Luckily we’ve got two days of recovery. Michael [Carrick] might be putting his boots on. It's not as bad as needing me yet, but we’re alright, we’ll be fine.”

Premier League: Manchester United 0 Liverpool 0

Manchester United and Liverpool’s eagerly awaited showdown at Old Trafford ended in a battling 0-0 stalemate, a result that did little to boost either side's Premier League aspirations.

United will continue to compete strongly for a place in the top four, but while the away fans were pointing out their team have now edged back to the top of the league, they will know that Jurgen Klopp's men missed a chance to win this game in hand over Manchester City.

This was the first goalless match of Solskjaer’s reign as caretaker boss and in truth it was a tense scrap lacking cutting-edge action in the two boxes. It was an intriguing rather than exhilarating affair, following a massive build-up to the latest episode of a classic rivalry.

It wasn’t the ideal start for United with the defence under immediate pressure after only 27 seconds on the clock when David De Gea used a hand to control Ashley Young’s back pass in the area. Fortunately for Solskjaer's men, the free kick was so close it had to be a thunderbolt strike attempt with no room for finesse and the rearguard dealt with the shot from James Milner.

In a frantic opening United did manage to get one early shot on target but Marcus Rashford’s effort was easily handled by Alisson.

Some of Solskjaer and his backroom staff’s pre-match planning went out of the window in a potentially damaging first 20 minutes when injury struck. Firstly it was Ander Herrera who was forced off with a problem after 20 minutes. Within five minutes of his fellow Spaniard's exit Juan Mata, was also down and struggled. He, too, headed quickly and sombrely to the dressing room.

The hasty reshuffle of personnel brought Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard into the action. The injury blows were not exclusive to United’s XI as after half an hour, Klopp was having to sort his side out when Firmino had to go off and Daniel Sturridge came on.

It was certainly all blood and thunder but there were moments of calmness as the rivals fought for supremacy.

Both sides were searching for that killer pass that would break the deadlock and after 40 minutes it looked for all the world that Romelu Lukaku had produced the key to unlock Liverpool’s defence.

The hosts had broken away and Old Trafford was on its feet as the Belgian steadied himself and then slipped a beauty of a ball through to meet Lingard’s run. Liverpool’s Brazilian keeper Alisson, however, had read the danger and came out quickly to smother the England attacker's attempt to glide past him.

Lingard, who had returned as a sub after missing the Emirates FA Cup win at Chelsea because of a hamstring injury, was hurt in the incident and United were forced into a third and final change before the break.

Solskjaer's men were determined not to be weakened by the injury blows and Lingard’s replacement Alexis Sanchez demonstrated this by setting up a cross for Lukaku to force another save from Alisson.

United had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the early second-half exchanges when Paul Pogba had stolen into space in the box to meet a cross after his side had won a free kick. But the Frenchman’s header in front of the Stretford End didn’t carry any power at all and it was an easy stop for Alisson.

Old Trafford was doing its level best to raise Solskjaer's men with an avalanche of noise tumbling down from the stands. So much so that the Norwegian appeared to be struggling to get his messages across to his team.

Chances were limited at both ends but Liverpool were starting to control proceedings with their passing. Solskjaer, obviously, had no sub cards left to play after the first-half damage but Klopp played one of his remaining two when he brought on Xherdan Shaqiri for Jordan Henderson.

United soaked up Liverpool efforts to smash down the door and, at the other end, almost snatched a victory at the death. Just as the electronic board went up to signal two minutes of added-on time, Lukaku fired over a low cross that just evaded both Alexis and Smalling as they raced towards goal looking for the winner.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea, Young (C), Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Herrera (Pereira 20), McTominay, Pogba, Mata (Lingard 25 (Alexis 42)), Lukaku, Rashford.

Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Fred, Dalot.

Booked: Young.

Liverpool: Alisson, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson (Shaqiri 71), Fabinho, Mane, Salah (Origi 79), Firmino (Sturridge 30).

Subs not used: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Keita, Lallana.

Booked: Milner, Shaqiri, Wijnaldum.

Attendance: 74,519.

Ferdinand: The training ground is buzzing again

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand paid a visit to the Aon Training Complex this week, to see his old team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Norwegian club legend continued to prepare his squad for Sunday’s Premier League match against historic rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Our reporter Mark Sullivan grabbed an exclusive interview with the now-retired defender to gather his thoughts on the most-anticipated game of the season so far, from which a win for the Reds would significantly boost our chances of finishing in the top four and also dent the Merseysiders’ hopes of winning the title.

That topic features prominently in our in-depth conversation with Rio, who also heaps praise on Victor Lindelof’s recent outstanding form in defence and provides an insight into his time with Solskjaer this week. Check out what the big man has to say…

Rio, how much are you looking forward to Sunday's big game?
“This is the first game I look for in the fixture list. When the fixture list comes out in the summer, before the season started, you go straight to this fixture, home and away, and see where it is, when is it in the calendar. You know, that sticks in your mind. It doesn't leave you. Until I came to United, I didn't realise the magnitude of what this game meant to both football clubs. Listen, I saw Ole at the training ground, and you don't need a team talk for this type of game. You sort your tactics out during the week, but on the morning of the game you really don't need to be told what it means and what you have to do. Your head is straight into this game, and tune in.”

You got it as a player, but you also know the rivalry as a fan and how much this game means...
“Yeah, bragging rights. Liverpool isn't far, it is just down the motorway from Manchester, so you are in contact with Liverpool fans on a regular basis. A lot of my mates are Liverpool fans. So you don't want to lose this game. As a player, it is pride. Players have egos and this game can really take a lot out of you as a player if you get beat, if you get destroyed on the day against a rival like this. So, all of those things in the mix make for a highly-amped game.”

s one of your highs that winning goal in front of the Stretford End?
“Yeah, listen, to score for Man United against Liverpool at the Stretford End, and to score an unbelievable goal like that, one of the best this fixture has ever seen - I'm joking! - is incredible. To score against Liverpool and to see their fans' faces, and to be able to always look back and remember that, it is nice to have it in the back pocket. When any Liverpool fan gives me any grief, I just pull it out of the inside pocket of my blazer and say, 'listen - have that!' So, it is a beautiful thing man. Not many players get to experience it. When you score and you win, I have done that a couple of times fortunately enough. Liverpool is just one of those fixtures... it's hard to put into words, for people to really understand what it means.”

Usually, when you were playing, we were fighting for the title and Liverpool were trying to upset us. But it has flipped around now...
“That is the incentive. If I was playing for Man United now, my incentive would be not seeing Liverpool winning the league. It is the worst of two evils in terms of Man City or Liverpool winning it. I would not want to see, in my time at this club, Liverpool winning the league. They have not won the Premier League before. I would be sitting there and in that changing room, that is all they would be talking about. 'They aren't winning the league, not at Old Trafford, they aren't coming here and winning the league'. That is how they have got to put it. That has got to be the stimulate for the players. Imagine the feeling of having to walk about when Liverpool are doing a parade for winning the league. That's the way you would be thinking. It would be your worst nightmare.“

Defensively, we have to be strong. Have you been impressed by the way Lindelof is progressing?
“Yeah, and I think he has done remarkable well to change that, because I think there was a point while he was here under the previous manager when you weren't sure he was going to be the person who would become a mainstay in the centre of defence. He has changed that around. I think that is with help from Ole, being from Norway and speaking similar languages. He will understand him a little bit more and I am sure he is guiding him in the right way. You can tell that from his performances. The sign of a top manager is being able to extract performances and the best parts of people's games. Ole is doing that to a tremendous level at this moment.”

You've been with Ole on the training ground. Just how well is he doing in your opinion?
“Listen, I walked around the training ground, the biggest compliment I can give him - bar the obvious of the players looking happy, getting great results and doing much better than expected - is that the people who work at the football club look happy again. People look like they have a spring in their step, they are happy to be at work, with the environment that he has created at the football club. I don't think people expected that from Ole. He is not an overly vocal and loud, and crazy guy, but he has done touches there that have really enabled people to feel, yeah, this is Manchester United again. That is a testament to his staff. Him, Mick Phelan and the guys behind that are doing a magnificent job. Listen, he is making it difficult for the people who make the decision on who will be the next manager.”

United v Liverpool kicks off at 14:05 GMT on Sunday.

Mata: We'll have 75,000 fans playing with us

Juan Mata has urged Manchester United's fans to drive the team on in Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford - a fixture he describes as “the biggest there is in English football”.

The Spaniard was superb in Monday's Emirates FA Cup fifth-round win at Chelsea – at the attacking head of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s effective midfield diamond – and believes the crowd at the Theatre of Dreams can help us record another important win against the Merseysiders.

“We want to have not only 11, but 75,000 [people] playing and trying to score on Sunday, and I’m sure they [the fans] will help us,” enthused the former Chelsea playmaker.

“I’m sure they will push us for the win and I have to say that the atmosphere at Old Trafford in the last few weeks has been incredible. They’re happy. They come and they’re getting results. The fans are going back home happy, and that’s the most important thing for us, so hopefully on Sunday it can be the same.

“Since I arrived in Manchester, I felt this was the big game. Liverpool-United, United-Liverpool – everyone is waiting for those derbies, and you can feel it in the build-up to the game. During the week, everyone is speaking about it, everyone is thinking about it. We will try to make it very special.“

United were beaten 3-1 when the sides last met at Anfield in December, but Mata is confident that Jurgen Klopp’s men will encounter a different beast this time around.

“Obviously when you win and you’re in a good run of results, everyone is happier. It gives you more confidence to play even better,” Juan explained.

“That’s what we’re living right now, and that’s what we want to keep [going] until the end of the season - this positive momentum.”

Our no.8 earned eternal legendary status when he netted twice at Anfield in March 2015 to seal a 2-1 win – leading some fans to cheekily rechristen the ground ‘Juanfield’ – and, unsurprisingly, that day means a lot to the midfielder.

“The game where I scored a brace at Anfield, when I scored that scissor-kick goal, will always have a special place in my heart and in my memory,” he admits.

“That was probably the biggest and the happiest memory that I have from our games against Liverpool during my time here. Also some other good games at Old Trafford – some other goal, assists – but that day at Anfield I cannot forget.”

The emotional pull of this fixture is renowned and the stakes are arguably higher than usual this weekend, with many supporters keen to see United derail Liverpool’s bid to end a 29-year title drought. But Juan reveals that’s not the way the squad thinks.

“We see it in a different way, which is: we’re trying to stay in these top four positions,” he states. “We got there after a very good run in the last months. Honestly it felt quite difficult to do it, if you asked me two months ago.

“But we are there now and we want to keep that position by winning, and obviously we’ll have to play against Liverpool and Manchester City, and both are fighting for the title with Tottenham, so let’s see what happens. But obviously what we want is to win every game and especially against the big teams.”

De Gea exclusive: Liverpool is a game to savour

It was Sergio Romero enjoying the limelight during Monday's stellar win at Chelsea, with David De Gea proudly watching on from his place on the bench.

But the Spaniard is likely to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s mammoth Premier League match against Liverpool, as United look to halt the Anfield side’s charge towards a first title in 29 years.

It’s a fixture De Gea has often excelled in, and the outstanding goalkeeper admits that it’s one that always gets the senses tingling - whatever position the two clubs find themselves in.

“It’s the biggest game in England,” our no.1 told United Review. “It’s a very special game, for the fans, the club and the players and, above all, when it’s at Old Trafford, it’s always even more of an occasion. It’s just a massive game.

“We aim to enjoy and, of course, we’ll be trying our best to win it!”

De Gea hails from Madrid - a city all too familiar with epochal football fixtures. The derby between David’s former team Atletico Madrid and their neighbours Real Madrid has taken on even greater intensity in the last decade, while Real also take part in arguably Spain’s equivalent fixture to Sunday’s match-up: the El Clásico with Barcelona.

“When I was in Spain, you always used to hear talk of the big rivalry and the huge game, or Clásico, between Manchester United and Liverpool,“ he said. ”You have two very big clubs, and it’s a game to really savour.”

De Gea has many great memories of playing against the Merseysiders, particularly at Anfield, where he has made famous saves to deny Philippe Coutinho and Joel Matip, among others. But the 28-year-old, who is looking to keep his 100th Premier League clean sheet this weekend, plumped for a victory in M16 when asked for his favourite memory by United Review.

“I’ve played quite a few games against them now, so I don’t know…” De Gea pondered. “Maybe the game at Old Trafford when we won 3-0 [14 December 2014]. I recall a few good games but maybe that 3-0 win at Old Trafford is the one that stands out, as it was a good experience. But every game we play against Liverpool is a special one.”

Supporters of both teams might argue that the circumstances surrounding this weekend’s meeting make it even more special, with Jurgen Klopp’s side seeking a first title since 1990, and many United fans are keen to see that eventuality avoided. But, for De Gea, United’s aspirations are the only concern.

“No matter what each of the two teams are playing for, this game is always very different and unique,” he says. “Both teams are competing on various fronts but we are playing at home, we want to win and want to keep battling to get into the Champions League next season.”

To achieve that win, De Gea will likely be required to keep Liverpool’s 44-goal hero of last season, Mohamed Salah, quiet. But the four-time winner of the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award believes obsessing about the Egyptian’s undoubted goal threat would be a misstep.

“You don’t just focus on the one player,” proclaims David. “They have got a good side with some good players individually. You prepare like you would for any other game, knowing that you are up against a very good side with some top players.“

What's the latest on Lingard and Martial?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have a chance of returning for Manchester United in Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Liverpool.

The attacking duo missed Monday’s 2-0 Emirates FA Cup fifth-round win at Chelsea with injuries they sustained during the Champions League defeat to Paris St-Germain last week.

Speaking in our exclusive interview before Friday’s pre-match press conference at the Aon Training Complex, Ole gave an update on the pair’s situation ahead of this weekend’s showdown at Old Trafford.

“I hope and think Anthony will be ready and I hope Jesse will be ready because it’s two different injuries,” the Norwegian told Stewart Gardner.

“So maybe more hope than think, with Anthony as well, but he’s got a chance. Anyway, we still hope Jesse could be ready. Let’s see. We’ve still got a couple of days’ training left and they need to be part of it.”

Adding in his press conference, Ole said: “They've not been part of it yet, but they've been doing some recovery work and Anthony's was a different muscle, of course, so we think that he might be ready and hope that Jesse will.”

When asked how important Anthony and Jesse are to the way the team plays, he added: “Every single player has their attributes to give us something and I think the way we played against Chelsea shows that we can manage without them as well. We've got options, it's a big squad, good players, everyone's eager.

”They [Lingard and Martial] want to play this game and some of them haven't played so much. If they get a chance in this game it's a chance to step forward, so if they don't make it, it might be the same team as we played against Chelsea. Who knows?“

HOW ABOUT LIVERPOOL?

Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are second in the Premier League table, will welcome back key defender Virgil van Dijk after the Dutchman missed Tuesday night’s goalless draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League through suspension.

But fellow centre-back Dejan Lovren is set to be sidelined again with a hamstring injury, while Joe Gomez isn’t expected to return for several weeks as he undergoes surgery on a broken ankle.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from injury against Bayern at Anfield in midweek, when Brazilian midfielder Fabinho played in defence.

Klopp could give a further update on the Merseysiders’ squad later today (Friday).

I want to build a side worthy of United's history

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists it is all a case of a work in progress at Manchester United at the moment, but he has made it clear what he expects of his players in the big showdown with Liverpool.

Nothing stirs the United fans more than a contest against our arch-rivals from Merseyside and the fact Liverpool are challenging for their first-ever Premier League title only adds extra spice to the occasion.

With Ole's side again showing their capabilities in a fabulous 2-0 victory against Chelsea, ending a spell of seven years without a win at Stamford Bridge, the stage is set for a titanic tussle with Jurgen Klopp's men this weekend.

“For them, it's a big game,” he said. “For us, it's a big game. We want to be among the top four. We're playing Liverpool and we know how big that is for Manchester United, for the staff, for the supporters. We're just looking forward to another challenge for this team.

”We want to build this team where it's worthy of Manchester United's history. It's another step on if we can do that home. Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, away, it was fantastic to win those three away games but now we need to perform at home as well.

“It's not about pride. I feel we've taken a few steps in the right direction in that process of becoming what we want to become - that we are a team that challenges higher up the league. Onto the next one, because I never look back. I just want to see forward.”

Ole is not getting involved in discussing the title race, with Tottenham Hotspur outsiders to overtake Manchester City and Liverpool at the Premier League summit.

”I’m not really focusing on the teams and what they're doing,” he said. “I'm focusing on us and what we have to do to get to where we want to be. It's a three-horse race at the top and it's a three-horse race to the fourth position, so that's more my focus, but now it's, of course, this game. Do I want Spurs to win the title? I don’t really get involved in that. Maybe!”

United's caretaker manager accepts Liverpool represent a tough challenge - they have lost only once in the league all season - but he feels his opposite number, Klopp, should also be expecting a real examination of their own credentials.

“We know we're in for a very tough game,” he added. “They've been fantastic this season. They will know as well, to come to Old Trafford should be difficult. I think they pay us respect and we will pay them respect. It's a team full of good players.”

Ole will not let the standards slip

Luke Shaw says Manchester United’s caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keeping everybody on their toes at Old Trafford.

The form has been sensational since the former striker returned to the club and our left-back is excited by the prospect of taking arch-rivals on Liverpool on Sunday in the 14:05 GMT kick-off.

Although Ole’s demeanour and personality suggests he is easy going, the defender insists there is another side to the Scandinavian that is ensuring the standards we have set ourselves do not slip.

“This is the biggest and best game to be involved in,” Shaw told MUTV. “Of course, we know how well they’ve been doing and how big the rivalry is between the two clubs.

”It’s one that everyone wants to be involved in. It’s always close to your thinking because of how big it is. It’s a really exciting thing to think about.”

The place is buzzing after the win at Chelsea extended the run under Ole to 11 wins, one draw and one defeat in 13 games. The Emirates FA Cup triumph was the perfect response to the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and confidence remains high with the Norwegian at the helm.

”It’s just amazing to look at the job Ole has done since he came in,” added Shaw. “How much he has turned it around and how much the place is in a positive way now.

”It’s just amazing to look at the job Ole has done since he came in,” added Shaw. “How much he has turned it around and how much the place is in a positive way now.
”You know, Ole does it at the right time [shows another side to him]. He knows how good we can be and, if we’re not up to his standards or the standards of Manchester United, he will certainly let you know.

”We’ve had a few moments like that where we might have been comfortable in a game but got a bit sloppy. He’s the manager and he tells the players what he wants. It’s good and what we need sometimes, a kick up the backside from the manager, if we’re getting too comfortable.

”It keeps everyone on their toes but he’s an amazing guy and a brilliant manager.”

Liverpool approach the game on the back of a goalless draw with Bayern Munich at Anfield in midweek and they will welcome influential defender Virgil van Dijk back from suspension as they aim to regain top spot in the Premier League, with Manchester City involved in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.

“We keep saying the same things but we need to keep doing what we’re doing, obviously minus the blip against PSG. We’ll keep focused on working hard and keep enjoying it so the results will keep on coming.”

Let's reproduce Monday's magic against Liverpool

At 9:02am on the morning after Manchester United's ruthless dismantling act at Chelsea, Michael Carrick fired up his Twitter app.

“To every single one of you behind the goal last night,” he wrote. “Non-stop from start to finish. The noise and energy was incredible. Would have loved to be in there myself. Thank you. Same again Sunday please.”

At the time of writing, that post has been ‘liked’ 73,977 times. And I’m fairly convinced that around 5,945 of those tappers and clickers were Reds scanning Carrick’s words from under drooping eyelids, while nursing hangovers of considerable severity.

Those of us that were in the Shed End on Monday night were knackered and sleep-deprived come Tuesday morning. The last train to Manchester hadn't reached Piccadilly station until around 2am, and I didn’t rest my head on my pillow until around 3am. But I was still buzzing at my desk, several hours later.

The Emirates FA Cup’s kick-off times don’t always make it easy for away supporters – one mate was gutted that he couldn’t get to Chelsea after being at Arsenal in the last round, simply because he couldn’t take any more time off work. But the competition is still brilliant. Away fans are entitled to 15 per cent of the ticket allocation and – when they get it – it makes for a brilliant atmosphere.

But most of us headed to the Fulham Road pessimistic. “I’m sick of coming here and seeing us lose,” moaned a friend in the pub, as kick-off approached.

Before Monday, we’d won just three games at Chelsea this century, and the PSG defeat – plus the injuries to Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial – didn’t inspire confidence. In that very well-to-do gastro pub, smart west Londoners draped in blue-and-white scarves ordered venison scotch eggs and white wine, as if to further emphasise that we were a very long way from Stretford.

But inside, United were absolutely brilliant, on and off the pitch. Urged on by those thousands on the south side of the ground, the players were pitiless in attack and dogged in defence; so much so that Chelsea were made to feel like imposters on their own home turf.

I was in the lower section of the Shed End and, throughout, there was a clatter from above, as those in the upper tier reached over to beat a relentless rhythm on the hoardings below them.

The singing never stopped. At one point in the second half, Ashley Young won a throw-in and earned a roar ferocious enough to shake the trees in Hyde Park. The full-back flashed a quick glance and grin towards us. You sensed he, like us, was loving every minute.

Obviously, there was some fear after the PSG match that the momentum created under Ole might have taken a hit, and with Chelsea and Liverpool next, worries abounded that it could become a more prolonged dip in form.

But that idea has been forcefully and defiantly rebuked. Every supporter, every man, woman and child, left that stadium on cloud nine, with nothing but optimism for Sunday and the cup quarter-final at Wolves. At Euston station, there were smiles splashed across the faces of those munching late-night Burger Kings and grabbing cans for the journey home.

Earlier this week, the FA revealed that match at Molineux will take place at 19:55 GMT on a Saturday night. Again, it won’t be easy for supporters, with the last train to Manchester leaving at 22:49 (problematic if the game goes to extra-time and/or penalties), but it will surely be a great day, and a tremendous atmosphere.

On the other hand, ample time in the afternoon before the football means some supporters are already planning to head to Dudley – the nearby hometown of Duncan Edwards – to pay tribute to the great Busby Babe.

However, Wolves feels as distant as the Ashes, the Tour de France or your summer trip to Crete right now.

As Carrick said, even while basking in the twilight of that win at Chelsea: “Same again Sunday please.”

There’s still nothing like the match between the two greatest clubs in English football history and, with many United fans hoping Tottenham or Manchester City win the title rather than the Anfield men, this weekend’s match carries an extra frisson of nervy apprehension.

One thing is clear: Jurgen Klopp’s men will not be half as excited as us fans are about Sunday. This is surely the 18-times champions’ trickiest remaining domestic fixture, and could be pivotal to their hopes of winning that first title since 1990.

For United, there’s less pressure. Solskjaer has already lifted the team to fourth way earlier than anyone expected, and the win at Chelsea means United’s season still contains a solid opportunity for silverware.

More importantly, the buzz – exemplified by the ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ chant, to the Stone Roses’ Waterfall – remains well and truly intact. It’s simply a fabulous time to be a Manchester United supporter.

This weekend is something of a free hit: a win against Liverpool is always brilliant, but it would be extremely sweet here, simply for the seismic way it could impinge on our great rivals.

Old Trafford knows the atmosphere has to be lifted, as Carrick requests. But I’ve no doubt it will be. It always is for matches against Liverpool Football Club.

The views of this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily represent those of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com

Young: ‘I was surprised we didn't get City!’

Manchester United defender Ashley Young has already set his sights on reaching the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals and claimed United were ready to face whoever we were drawn against in the next round.

United qualified for the last eight of the competition on Monday night after beating Chelsea 2-0 in the fifth round, thanks to goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba.

After being paired with the Blues and Arsenal in the last two rounds, Young, who is suspended for the tie at Wolves, was fulling expecting another tough tie and feared no-one ahead of the draw.

“I was surprised we didn't get [Manchester] City, that's what we were looking for,” the full-back told reporters after the victory at Stamford Bridge.

Instead, the Reds drew the highest-ranked side left in the competition after the two Manchester clubs, and Young knows it will prove to be another tough test.

“You have to beat every team in the competition [if you want to win it] and that's what we'll do,“ he said. ”We'll go down there to beat them and get through to the semi-finals.”

The former Aston Villa man put in another superb showing on Monday and managed to keep Chelsea’s danger man Eden Hazard quiet for most of the match. It wasn’t just Young who was at the top of his game in the capital and every United player executed their role to perfection against the Blues.

“It was very good to get the win away and the way we did,” explained Young.

“We knew Chelsea's weaknesses and we knew how we wanted to play the game, and I think we did that superbly well from the start until the end. It was magnificent and I think we had another gear to go [into]. That says a lot about us bouncing back from midweek [against Paris Saint-Germain] and getting a result here.

“The first 10/15 minutes were a bit shaky but, after that, we stamped our authority on the game, got the first goal and we were on the front foot from then on, and went out and scored the second and we scored two unbelievable goals. But we had to defend as a team.

“We have been doing that, attacking as a team, defending as a team, and being compact. When you don't concede goals, you win games.”

Pogba was one of the many United stars who impressed at the Bridge and the Frenchman’s well-timed header just before the interval proved to be a dagger to the heart of Chelsea’s hopes of a second-half comeback.

“He's a world-class player,” said Young. “You don't win a World Cup for no reason, but it's not just about Paul, it's a team game and squad game.

“Everyone that started the game, everyone on the bench, the boys that came on were fantastic. Scott [McTominay] was only on for a few minutes but he did his job and played his part. When Andreas [Pereira] and Alexis [Sanchez] came on, they were fantastic as well.

“It's all competition for places and it keeps everyone on their toes. Every day in training, you've got to be giving 100 per cent and everyone wants to be in the team. When you're winning games, everyone wants to be in that team and be part of it.”

United and Marriott International become partners

Marriott International and Manchester United today announced a multi-year marketing partnership, giving the 120 million members of the Marriott Bonvoy travel programme exclusive opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime Manchester United football experiences - including the chance to become the club’s Stadium Announcer or Kit Manager for the day.

The new partnership launches today with a film that features familiar faces from the Manchester United first team and team management, bringing these magical moments to life.

Manchester United Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold, comments: “Marriott International is the leader in its field and we’re excited to be partnering with them as Marriott launches its new travel programme, Marriott Bonvoy. Together we look forward to creating some unforgettable moments for Marriott Bonvoy members, inspired by the thrill and excitement that only Manchester United can create for fans around the world.”

With the Marriott Bonvoy travel programme, members have access to its extraordinary portfolio of global brands and properties in 130 countries and territories, as well as unmatched member benefits and exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments’ experiences.

Marriott International Global Marketing Officer, Karin Timpone, comments: ”We are thrilled to offer compelling benefits to Marriott Bonvoy members, now expanded to include unique Manchester United experiences. This marketing partnership enables our members to access special VIP game experiences by using the points they’ve accumulated during hotel stays for unprecedented, exclusive experiences.“

Marriott Bonvoy Moments enables members to redeem points to purchase any of 8,000 lifestyle, entertainment, sport, culinary and more experiences globally. Exclusive Manchester United Moments include:

‘Stadium Announcer’ Experience – Marriott Bonvoy members will have the chance to go behind the scenes at the iconic ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ shadowing the stadium announcer with their pre-match preparations. Prior to the game, the member and a guest will soak up the atmosphere pitch side, before enjoying VIP hospitality, including match tickets and a meet and greet with a former player.

Welcome the Team on arrival at Old Trafford – Members arriving at Old Trafford on matchday will head pitch side to meet a Manchester United legend before making their way to the player’s tunnel to be in prime position to welcome the team as they step off the coach and head into the dressing room to prepare for the game.

‘Kit Manager’ Experience – Members will be able to add a final finesse to the home dressing room at Old Trafford pre-game as they shadow the first team Kit Manager. The member and a guest will help prepare the match kit ahead of the players’ arrival before heading pitchside to be met by a Manchester United Legend. After the hard work is done, members will be able to sit back and relax whilst enjoying pre and post-match VIP hospitality.

Early team news for United against Liverpool

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may still be without Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial for Sunday's Premier League match against historic rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The pair picked up injuries during the UEFA Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain on 12 February, which forced them to miss the second half and both players subsequently sat out Monday’s Emirates FA Cup fifth-round victory at Stamford Bridge.

“I don't think we will see them in the next two games,” Ole told us last Friday, when the club legend was previewing the cup tie at Chelsea. “Let's hope they heal quickly, but it looks like they might be out for two or three weeks.”

With Lingard and Martial unavailable, Solskjaer selected a three-pronged attack of Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford last time out. Alexis Sanchez stepped off the bench in west London and earned praise from his team-mates for working hard to secure a vital win. It will be fascinating to see which of our forwards starts against Liverpool.

Meanwhile, David De Gea is expected to return after making way for Sergio Romero to start on Monday night. Our Spanish stopper has not missed a single minute of Premier League football this season and is determined to keep a third consecutive clean sheet, following the recent top-flight wins over Fulham and Leicester City.

In defence, Solskjaer can select between Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling in the centre of defence. All four of them have started at least once in the last three matches, and it looks like Marcos Rojo is closing in on full fitness as well after training with the squad for several weeks.

Ashley Young earned a one-match ban as a result of the yellow card he received in the match at Chelsea, but that suspension only applies in the FA Cup and he is therefore available to start against Liverpool.

It remains to be seen if experienced defenders Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian are available to return from injury this weekend.

Solskjaer will hopefully provide an update during his press conference at the Aon Training Complex on Friday. The exact time of that briefing is still to be confirmed.

WHAT ABOUT LIVERPOOL?

The visitors are expected to welcome defender Virgil van Dijk back for the trip to Old Trafford, after he missed Liverpool’s 0-0 Champions League draw against Bayern Munich through suspension.

With centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez also missing, Jurgen Klopp was forced to select a pairing of Joel Matip and Fabinho at the heart of defence on Tuesday night. Yet, Van Dijk’s return could see the latter step into a midfield role.

The Brazilian, Fabinho, will likely start alongside two of Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner in a midfield three.

Up front, Liverpool will almost certainly opt for the dynamic trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane who, between them, have netted 38 Premier League goals so far this campaign.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from injury to play at right-back against Bayern Munich and helped the Merseysiders to keep a clean sheet.

Gini Wijnaldum insists Liverpool are braced for a serious test at Old Trafford this Sunday.

“I think it is going to be a real big change from December,” the Dutchman said this week. “Since the new manager came in there is a new flow, they played good games and have won a lot and that is building confidence in the team.

“It's also a home game for them so they will have a lot of confidence as they don't have the problems they had before. It is going to be a difficult game but I'm looking forward to it. I think for them we come at a good moment but we're also doing well so it is going to be a nice game to watch.”

We are happy to do the dirty work!

Manchester United midfielders Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera say they are happy to keep doing much of the team’s hard labour if it means the Reds continue winning matches.

The hard-working pair have been a vital part of United’s resurgence in recent months and, alongside Paul Pogba in the centre of the park, have regularly overpowered the opposition.

Matic and Herrera again produced sensational performances as United beat Chelsea 2-0 on Monday night, with the former stopping the Blues' more creative players from finding time and space on the ball, while Herrera’s 31st-minute header opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge.

The victory was our third high-profile win in the capital since the turn of the year, to add to our impressive performances away to Tottenham and Arsenal. Crucial to those successes has been the selfless work of Matic and Herrera, which gives our more offensive players the freedom to attack.

“I said to the manager we are running a lot at the moment to make our forwards enjoy it,” Herrera jokingly told Inside United, the club's official monthly magazine.

“Sometimes it is hard for us but, as long as they score goals and as long as they make our fans enjoy the games, we will continue doing that. I don’t know for how long! I am almost 30 and you [Matic] are already 30… as long as they continue scoring goals and we keep winning games we will be fine, but we will probably need a long holiday afterwards!”

Matic added: “Oh, as long as they score three or four goals per game, we are fine. We can play for 10 more years!”

The Serbian has played alongside some of the world’s top midfielders, but rates Herrera up there among the best.

“I think Ander has everything that a midfield player needs to have – especially a Manchester United player who needs to have almost everything – to play, to win the games, to win trophies so I really enjoy playing with him,” said Matic.

“He has it all technically and he’s very good tactically, and he runs a lot. He helps the team and his team-mates, in this case me, because I play next to him.”

Likewise, Herrera is enjoying playing alongside Matic.

“He is a very experienced guy,” said the Spaniard. “He knows when he has to speed the game up or slow the game down.

“When the team needs the ball, he’s always able to keep it, to have some passes to slow the game down and, when the team needs to move forward, he has the ability to do it.

“The most difficult thing in football, in my opinion, is to make the right decisions. For example, when we’re playing away and all the atmosphere is against us, the crowd shouting and screaming and you have to make the right decisions and he does it perfectly.”

Matic and Herrera have started seven of the last eight in a midfield trio with Pogba and, while they are currently Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred selection, they also know there is much more quality in United’s midfield ranks.

“What the manager has brought to the team is the message that we are all important,” said Herrera.

“We are Manchester United players and we are always ready to fight, always ready to ask for the ball.

“At the moment, it is true that us two plus Paul are playing more, but I’m sure Nemanja would agree with me that we have a lot of quality in the team – Fred can play, Scott [McTominay] has a lot of potential and energy, Andreas Pereira has a lot of qualities. I think we can all help. At the moment we are enjoying more time but the season is long and we will need everyone.

“The mood at the moment, the atmosphere, it’s fantastic and I think the fans feel like we are doing what they want us to do,” the 29-year-old added.

“We are going now in the way that they want us to go – of course, winning, but also in the style of football, the attacking football, always trying to create chances, always trying to be the protagonist team on the pitch.

“That’s what our fans want so the only thing we can say – and I think Nemanja is the same – is thank you to you all. It is going to be a very tough battle for the top four, and also for the Champions League, so we really need them.”

Talking points after the win at Stamford Bridge

With Manchester United safely through to the last eight of the Emirates FA Cup after another victory by a two-goal margin in the capital, we look at some of the talking points coming out of the excellent victory at Chelsea.

SETTING RECORDS

The 2-0 triumph at Stamford Bridge has equalled the all-time club record of seven away wins. Sir Alex Ferguson's Reds set it between April and August 1993, and matched it between March and April 2002. Of course, we can set a new benchmark in our next Premier League game on the road - at Crystal Palace on 27 February. We have reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the fifth year in a row and, not only did we avenge last term's final loss but we knocked out the holders for an 11th time over the years - more than anybody else. It is only the third time we have won at Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in the same season.

AMAZING ANDER

Ander Herrera was voted our Man of the Match after making three tackles, winning nine duels and intercepting the ball five times, this aside from heading home Paul Pogba's cross for the opener. Our Spanish star was immense in midfield, following up a stellar display against the Blues at Old Trafford in 2017 with another masterclass. What was also impressed was how quickly he flagged up the contribution of our substitutes in his post-match interview and fans spotted his motivational embrace with Alexis Sanchez after the final whistle.

BEWARE OF THE POG

Pogba not only set up Herrera's header with the most inviting of crosses but he was the provider of the killer second goal just before half-time. Winning the ball in the middle of the park and expertly releasing Marcus Rashford, he then stormed into the area to attack the striker's perfect cross with his header having too much power for Kepa Arrizabalaga in the home net. For a midfielder, Pogba's stats are incredible - he has now been directly involved (either scoring or assisting) 15 goals during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 12 games in charge as caretaker manager.

THE PERFECT RESPONSE

Many were doubting how United would react to a first defeat under Ole but a first win at Stamford Bridge in seven years was the ideal answer. The confidence has clearly not been eroded by the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain and Solskjaer even said afterwards that the European tie is not over yet as we can still win by two goals, as we did on Monday night. The tactical work from the coaching team has been outstanding with the Blues nullified throughout.

SINGING IN THE SHED END

Over 5,000 supporters certainly made their voices heard in west London, roaring the Reds on to victory. 'Ole's at the wheel' was belted out and the backing was praised by all the United staff - including coach Michael Carrick, who posted on Twitter to say: “Non-stop from start to finish. The noise and energy was incredible. Would have loved to be in there myself.”

FIXTURE UPDATES

United will face Wolves in the quarter-finals after being handed another tough draw. The tie at Molineux will take place around the weekend of 16/17 March, meaning the derby against Manchester City, who are at Swansea City in the cup, has been postponed. It is also worth noting the Premier League encounter at Wolves will also be called off with one of the clubs guaranteed a place at Wembley in the semi-finals on the same weekend of 6/7 April.

YOUNG BLOW

Ashley Young picked up a yellow card for a foul on Eden Hazard and will be suspended for the next round at Molineux. The England international's absence could open the door for Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian or Diogo Dalot depending on their fitness and availability.

RELIABLE ROMERO

Sergio Romero repaid the manager's faith in him by keeping a clean sheet and providing a solid base for the triumph. Although David De Gea travelled with the squad, our no.1 was on the bench with the Argentinian keeping his place, as he has for all of our domestic cup matches this term. The debate as to whether 'Chiqui' is the best no.2 in the business will continue after his handling was spot on all night and he made a decent double stop from David Luiz and Pedro in the first half. Romero even overcame a collision with Luke Shaw to ensure he saw out the shut-out.

CHONG IN THE STANDS

Although the Under-23s missed him in the 3-1 defeat to Stoke City, Dutch wide man Tahith Chong travelled with the first team and will have benefited from the experience. Ole has been integrating youth into his squad and there must have been a temptation to hand the teenager, who was handed his debut in the third round of the competition against Reading, a place on the bench with Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard sidelined.

SO WHAT'S NEXT?

Old Trafford is the place to be on Sunday when Liverpool provide the opposition in a Premier League fixture that will mean everything to both sets of supporters. Let's savour this superb win in the capital first before the focus will very much be honed in on the visit of Jurgen Klopp's team but it is fair to say United are bullish and buoyant again heading into the clash.