Match reportLiverpool beaten by Manchester United at Old Trafford

The home side took control of the contest in the opening half, scoring via Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko to lead at the break.

The Reds netted two goals in nine minutes soon after the interval through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo to restore parity.

Kobbie Mainoo, however, provided the difference between the two teams in the 77th minute to see United take victory.

Team

Liverpool made two changes as Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch moved into the starting line-up.

Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah were the two players to be ruled out by injury.

Liverpool: Woodman, Van Dijk, Konate (Chiesa, 87), Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson (Kerkez, 59), Frimpong (Ngumoha, 75), Gravenberch.

Unused subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Nyoni, Morrison, Ndiaye, Wright.

First half

The game was just six minutes old when the hosts earned an advantage, Cunha the player to score after Liverpool failed to clear a corner ball.

His first shot was blocked from the edge of the area after a defensive header but the rebound fell back to the attacker’s feet and his next low effort found the bottom corner via a deflection.

Liverpool responded with pressure and possession, though United doubled their lead in the 14th minute.

They broke quickly into the final third as Bruno Fernandes saw a ball across the box to Sesko saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

At the next delivery, Fernandes headed Luke Shaw’s deep cross back to Sesko and the striker was able to bundle the ball into the net from close range.

A VAR check for a possible handball by Sesko judged there was not conclusive evidence for a disallowance.

In response, Gakpo drove a shot inches past the post from outside the area, while Florian Wirtz did similar a little later.

Fernandes again threatened as he struck a half-volley wide of the post from a Bryan Mbeumo cross, but it was as close as either team would come to adding to the scoreline before the break.

Second half

Liverpool found a way back into the contest two minutes after the restart.

Szoboszlai picked up a loose pass from the hosts in midfield and calmly carried the ball towards goal, drove into the area and cut to his left foot to place a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The strike gave the Reds belief and just nine minutes later they were level as they pounced on another mistake from the hosts.

Alexis Mac Allister reacted quickest after a short goal-kick routine, intercepting a pass on the edge of the box.

The midfielder found Szoboszlai in space, who in turn touched the ball off to Gakpo, resulting in the forward firing home from in close to even up proceedings.

The match became even more open as a result, with both teams exchanging possession and attacks in an attempt to get in front.

Liverpool again threatened with a dangerous Szoboszlai free-kick from the right flank hitting a number of bodies, before being cleared off the line by goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

In similar fashion, Fernandes combined with Casemiro at a set-piece, though the resulting header was straight at Woodman.

However, the home side again got themselves in front with 13 minutes of the remaining. Mainoo was on target, sweeping a shot into the net from the edge of the box after a cross from Shaw was cleared to the midfielder.

The Reds searched for a leveller, and went close via substitute Rio Ngumoha’s low driven shot, but were unable to find another goal and fell to defeat.