4. Jurgen Klopp got it all right whereas Van Gaal trusted Fellaini.
To have chosen to go with brawn over brains in central midfield Van Gaal set his stall out even before kickoff at Anfield starting Mouranne Fellaini over the likes of Herrera and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
With a top-four finish still more of a long shot than a sure thing for both tonight’s clash represented the biggest game of the season to date. So what did Van Gaal do in such a big spot? Turned to his biggest player, literally. Fellaini returned from injury and went straight back into the team.
Louis van Gaal prides himself on his tactical acumen – but Jurgen Klopp got the better of him tonight, of that there’s no question. Klopp could barely have drawn it up better – and Firmino’s second goal gave them the advantage their comprehensive dominance warranted on the night.
Klopp’s high press has become his calling card, both in Germany and now in the Premier League, and tonight his team showed why. Such was the ferocity and intensity of the Reds’ wave upon wave of attacking pressure that United’s wide men, Memphis Depay and Rashford (who was hooked at the break), spent more time going towards their own goal than Liverpool’s all night long.
