Highlights
— Bruno Fernandes decides FA Cup fourth-round tie with 78th-minute free-kick
— Chelsea beat Luton Town 3-1 in the FA Cupii
— Brentford 1-3 Leicester City: Foxes come from behind to knock Bees out of FA Cup
— We have found a way that we and the players believe in and we are getting stronger and stronger. - Ole
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| We have found a way that we and the players believe in and we are getting stronger and stronger. - Ole |
Bruno Fernandes fired Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round as his 78th-minute free-kick earned his side a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. Mohamed Salah scored twice to cancel out Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford goals but Liverpool's woes continue; United to face West Ham in fifth round
Liverpool's poor form continued at the home of the fierce rivals; they have now failed to progress beyond the fourth round in five of their six seasons under Jurgen Klopp and the Premier League champions have recorded one win in their last seven games in all competitions.
Mohamed Salah gave the visitors the perfect start with a sublime finish (18) but Mason Greenwood levelled eight minutes later following a sweeping move.
Marcus Rashford completed the turnaround with his fourth Old Trafford goal against Liverpool (48) but Salah restored parity after running onto Roberto Firmino's pass (58).
The stage was set for Fernandes, who settled the tie 12 minutes after his introduction with a venomous free-kick from the edge of the box to set up a fifth-round tie at home to West Ham next month.
Player ratings
Man Utd: Henderson (6), Wan Bissaka (6), Lindelof (6), Maguire (6), Shaw (7), Pogba (6), McTominay (6), Greenwood (7), Van de Beek (6), Rashford (8), Cavani (6).
Subs: Fred (7), Bruno Fernandes (7), Martial (n/a).
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Williams (5), Fabinho (6), Robertson (6), Milner (7), Thiago (7), Wijnaldum (7), Jones (6), Salah (7), Firmino (7).
Subs: Mane (6), Shaqiri (n/a), Origi (n/a).
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford.
Fernandes steals headlines in thriller
United entered the tie unbeaten in their last seven home games against Liverpool in all competitions since a 3-0 loss in March 2014. Last weekend's stalemate failed to inspire, but Liverpool came to Old Trafford dressed in hyper turquoise, and this fourth-round tie lived up to the hype.
The clash got off to an intense, end-to-end start, with Liverpool finding the breakthrough in the 18th minute. Firmino threaded a pass between Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof to Salah, who was played onside by the latter and coolly lifted the ball over Dean Henderson.
United have won seven of nine league games having conceded the first goal, collecting 21 points from losing positions, and they made it 1-1 in the 26th minute. Greenwood had already had two half chances, failing to trouble Alisson, but his luck would change.
Team news
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made five changes for Manchester United's FA Cup fourth-round clash with rivals Liverpool. Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford came into the starting line-up, as did Dean Henderson and Victor Lindelof.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also made five alterations on Sunday, with Rhys Williams, James Milner, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Curtis Jones brought in.
Paul Pogba broke up a Liverpool attack and Donny van de Beek sent a quick pass as the hosts raced forwards, with Rashford darting down the left before cutting back and sending a fine diagonal ball over to Greenwood on the right. The teenager matched the play with his unerring finish, firing right-footed across Alisson.
With 19 FA Cup titles between them, it was clear both managers were desperate to reach round five, and the first half drew to a close with Pogba and Scott McTominay heading over presentable chances from two Shaw corners.
Sky Sports' Nick Wright said: "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has clearly instructed his side to target the right-hand side of Liverpool's defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rhys Williams look extremely vulnerable up against Rashford and Shaw."
Shaw created three times as many chances as any other United player in the opening period but Jurgen Klopp stuck with his same starting XI for the restart - and three minutes later, his side were behind.
Shaw began the move as his throw-in was collected in midfield by Edinson Cavani, who rode the challenge of Thiago and found Greenwood. Rhys Williams failed to clear Greenwood's first time ball, which allowed Rashford to race through and coolly turn past Alisson.
Liverpool reacted well to falling behind, however, and James Milner was left holding his head in his hands after scooping over from close range.
But the 35-year-old midfielder soon helped Liverpool level as they capitalised on uncharacteristically sloppy Cavani play, with Milner leaving Firmino's cross for Salah to sweep home.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer identified that Liverpool were in the ascendancy and duly turned to Fernandes on his bench. Twelve minutes later, Fabinho gave United a chance with the clock winding down after fouling Cavani on the edge of the box.
The Brazil international avoided a second yellow card but Fernandes would carry out the ultimate punishment. The Portugal midfielder pulled rank and buried his 28th goal for United to provide a classic FA Cup tie with the match-winning strike it deserved.
Man of the match - Marcus Rashford
Rashford endured a frustrating afternoon at Anfield last weekend but he so often enjoys his duels with Liverpool on home soil.
He received a 5 in Sky Sports' player ratings seven days ago having been deployed, by quite some distance, as United's furthest-forward player, showing a "baffling indiscipline with the offside rule".
But here, back out in his preferred role on the left, he mesmerised in tandem with Shaw. Trent Alexander-Arnold had a torrid time containing him.
What the managers said
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "It's fantastic to win games against last year's champions - they are a fantastic team and we have had good results over the past couple of years playing different systems but today we played well and won on our terms.
"We have found a way that we and the players believe in and we are getting stronger and stronger. Our mentality to come back from 1-0 down. We have shown it so many times this season. Physically we have got stronger and stronger and lasted to the end of games a lot more.
Ole Gunnaer Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United side have found a way of playing that they believe in, following their 3-2 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
"We look at the difference of a year ago and six months back... you cannot take too many big strides at any one point, but layer by layer we are getting better and better, winning tight games. The morale and confidence of course is very good.
For us it's a good feeling to play on our terms. We have had some good results over the last few years, playing with the diamond or with a 3-5-2... different systems to nullify opponents but to win today with a positive selection and in the way we see our team, that's a statement to ourselves.
"That's the confidence boost that we can match the best with our style of football."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp:
"It's not what we wanted so it's always frustrating. If we wanted to win today, we had to be at the absolute top of our game but we made a lot of steps in the right direction. We started the game well, and then we made decisive mistakes. We had not enough protection for United's first goal, but it's good that my team likes to go forward and score goals.
"In the end, they scored three and we scored two but we can take positives out of this game. We know exactly what we need to work on, but we have to make steps. We made big steps tonight, which for the moment is OK.
"We scored twice and we had other situations where we created well against a deep defending block. We made obvious mistakes around the goals, and with the third, your colleagues tell me it wasn't a foul but I didn't see it. I was told that it might not have been a foul for the free-kick but that's how it is. If you want to change something you have to work hard and that's what we'll do.
"There's no doubt about my trust in the players, but we need to be critical on ourselves. As a group, we are really together. If we have problems, we have to solve it together. Nobody is thinking about the very good things of the past few years. We are in this moment, and all we can is try to win football games. Tonight, I didn't see any confidence problems but obviously if we don't score for a while it's not good for confidence. It's about how you deal with it."
Liverpool's wait for Old Trafford win goes on -
Opta stats
Georginio Wijnaldum has a shot on goal under pressure from Luke Shaw
Image: Georginio Wijnaldum has a shot on goal under pressure from Luke Shaw
Manchester United have eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup proper for the 10th time; in the competition's history, only Liverpool themselves (12 v Everton) have knocked a particular side out more times (including finals).
Liverpool have won just one of their last 15 matches at Old Trafford in all competitions (D4 L10), and are winless in their last eight at the ground (D4 L4).
Manchester United have won each of their last eight home games in the FA Cup; only from 1908 to 1912 have they had a better winning run on home soil in the competition (9 games).
Liverpool are the first reigning Premier League champion to be eliminated from the FA Cup as early as the fourth round since Manchester City in 2014-15.
Liverpool have lost back-to-back games in all competitions for the first time since March 2020.
FA Cup 2020/21 - key dates and draw
The FA Cup schedule has been confirmed, with the final set to take place at Wembley on Saturday May 15.
There will be no replays this season to help ease fixture congestion.
Fifth round: Wednesday February 10
Quarter-finals: Saturday March 20
Semi-finals: Saturday April 17
Final: Saturday May 15
SEE OTHER RESULTS: 
Chelsea beat Luton Town 3-1 in the FA Cup
Tammy Abraham's hat-trick helped Chelsea beat Luton Town 3-1 in the FA Cup fourth round to help ease the pressure on under-fire manager Frank Lampard.
Abraham had appeared to put the hosts in total control of the tie with two early goals, only for Jordan Clark's strike on the half-hour mark, with the aid of another Kepa Arrizabalaga error, to give Luton hope of a shock at Stamford Bridge.
However, Abraham was on hand to ease any home nerves with a close-range finish 16 minutes from time and despite Timo Werner missing a late penalty, Chelsea still set up a fifth-round clash at Barnsley.
Brentford 1-3 Leicester City: Foxes come from behind to knock Bees out of FA Cup
Leicester, without injured top scorer Jamie Vardy, made eight changes but England midfielder Maddison kept his place and was instrumental in their comeback.
The visitors threatened in the opening moments when Under charged to the byline and pulled the ball back for Ayoze Perez, whose first-time volley flew just wide.
But it was Brentford who went ahead with their first attack after Leicester failed to clear Vitaly Janelt's corner.
Defender Sorensen was quickest to react to the loose ball and poked it past Foxes 'keeper Danny Ward from close range.
The hosts could have added to their lead in the first half, notably from another Janelt corner which found its way to Tariqe Fosu at the far post, but Ward got down well to block his effort.
Saman Ghoddos then whistled one free-kick narrowly over before forcing Ward to tip a second over the crossbar before half-time.
Leicester had offered little in the opening 45 minutes, but that changed just 48 seconds after the restart.
Maddison weaved through the Brentford rearguard to the edge of the area before teeing up Under, who powerfully fired home past Luke Daniels.
Moments later Perez headed a Tielemans cross over before Daniels saved Harvey Barnes' fierce drive.
Then, in the 51st minute, Tielemans was tripped in the area by Fosu and the Belgium midfielder sent Daniels the wrong way with the spot-kick.
Under should have added Leicester's third when Ricardo Pereira pulled the ball back to him but the Turkey midfielder side-footed wide from 12 yards out.
Instead, Maddison killed off the tie with 20 minutes remaining when he tapped in the rebound after Barnes' shot was saved.
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