Europa League: Liverpool break losing streak against Manchester United, Dortmund thrash Tottenham
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
Meeting for the first time ever on the European stage, both sides named fairly strong lineups considering the players the two managers had at their disposal. Daniel Sturridge started the game for Liverpool while Marouane Fellaini returned to the starting lineup following his recovery from injury with Louis van Gaal stating: “He is ready for it. Maybe not 90 minutes but maybe 60 or 70.”
Although the game didn’t get off to a great start for the Anfield side with Jordan Henderson going into the referee’s book less than 10 minutes into the game, it was Liverpool who drew first blood. Nathaniel Clyne found himself near the edge of the United box as he made an incisive run and as Emre Can tried to feed him with a through-ball, Memphis Depay appeared to bring down the Liverpool full-back and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
There was a debate over whether the foul occurred inside or outside the box but the referee was adamant that it was a penalty Daniel Sturridge stepped up to take the spot-kick. In spite of a brief hesitation in his run-up, Sturridge managed to put the ball past David De Gea who guessed the right direction but could only get his fingertips to it – not enough to prevent Liverpool from going 1-0 up.
But the Spanish shot-stopper did keep United in the game with a number of tremendous saves over the course of the game, especially from Coutinho just three minutes later. Another through-ball found the Brazilian at the far post and his effort was a little tame from an acute angle but De Gea was on hand to swat it aside.
De Gea then made saves off an Adam Lallana shot and a dipping Coutinho volley to keep a frustrated Reds side at bay for long periods. He was even called into service to save Chris Smalling;s blushes after the defender made a horrendous mistake to allow Sturridge through on goal and take a shot from six yards out.
Liverpool’s attacks denied United a chance to get forward with even Marcus Rashford reduced to defensive duties in the first-half to keep an eye on the marauding Alberto Moreno. The young forward even earned himself a booking for a foul and was eventually replaced by Michael Carrick as Van Gaal switched to three at the back to find an equaliser.
But it was Liverpool who grabbed a second when Michael Carrick accidentally conceded possession inside the box with a suicidal first touch. It was all the invitation Lallana needed and he quickly fed Roberto Firmino who scored from close range.
By this stage, Van Gaal made a double substitution and he kept Fellaini on the pitch, bringing on Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera for Morgan Schneiderlin and Juan Mata. The veteran German midfielder almost made an immediate impact too with a cross floated into the Liverpool box. Fellaini managed to get his head on the ball but the header was off target by a few feet.
In the end, it was Van Gaal’s first loss against Liverpool as United boss while the Merseyside club’s clean sheet means they have a clear advantage when they make the short trip to Old Trafford for the second leg next week.
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
With both sides comfortably placed to directly qualify for the Champions League next season, there was a sense that they could take it easy and focus on their exploits in their respective leagues as they look to reel in the leaders in the title race. But when the teams were announced, it was clear that only one team were serious about this tie
Thomas Tuchel had named a strong lineup with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starting the game. On the other hand, Mauricio Pochettino had benched the likes of Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele with Nacer Chadli leading the line, clearly stating his intention to focus on the Premier League title instead.
Although Christian Eriksen tested goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller as early as the first minute, it was Dortmund who seized the initiative and took advantage of the second-string Spurs side. They targeted full-backs Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier and made good use of the flanks to initiate attacks.
The first goal came from their in-form man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when Marcel Schmelzer’s pin-point cross from the left flank was headed in towards the bottom corner by the striker from Gabon. His leap was timed well and the header was directed away from a stranded Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal. It was his 33rd goal of the season in 38 matches in all competitions this season.
Spurs were insipid in the first half and heaved a sigh of relief when the first-half whistle blew. They were outplayed and did nothing to prove they could get an away goal.
But the second half saw Dortmund shift up a couple of gears as they took the game by the scruff of its neck. A corner kick just after the hour mark saw Dortmund take it short allowing Gonzalo Castro to send in a cross. Substitute Neven Subotic flicked the ball toward the far post and Marco Reus was at the right place to score with a thunderous volley that threatened to tear open the roof of the net.
However, Dortmund saved the best for last when Marco Reus scored his second of the game. Dominating possession at this stage of the game, the home side strung together 21 passes before the German forward made it 3-0. The diagonal movement of Aubameyang, Castro and Reus completely flummoxed the Spurs defence and Castro’s lob towards the edge of the six-yard box was fired home by Reus to complete the rout.