MAN UNITED 3-2 LIVERPOOL: RED DEVILS QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THANKS TO KOBBIE MAINOO'S SUPERB LATE WINNER - AFTER TWO ERRORS SAW BITTER RIVALS MOUNT SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK

Maybe it was actually sweeter for Manchester United to win this way. To give their great rivals some hope and then snatch it away from them again

Michael Carrick and his United team are back in the Champions League and this was quite some way to do it.

Fifteen minutes in and United were two goals up and rampant. Liverpool scored seven at Anfield against Erik ten Hag’s version of United back in 2023 and, after those early goals from Matheus Cunha and then Benjamin Sesko, Carrick’s players must have sniffed some kind of ultimate payback.

Liverpool were hopeless and hapless. Full of possession and territory but all at sea once United’s red waves of counter-attack broke on their shores.

Oblivion beckoned and United and their supporters would have given anything at this stage to be able to dish out a proper hiding. They have suffered enough at the hands of their great rivals in recent times.

But if that wasn’t to be possible then maybe this was a perfect alternative. To drag Liverpool up from their knees and then catapult them back down into the dirt.

Twice in the first eleven minutes of the second half, United coughed up the ball to give Liverpool two goals and parity. It was a comeback that came from nowhere. 

It was the perfect start for United as Matheus Cunha struck inside six minutes at Old Trafford

Young substitute Amad Diallo was the first to err, Dominik Szoboszlai running clear to score. Then, almost immediately, goalkeeper Senne Lammens messed up a short goal kick and Cody Gakpo rolled the ball in to an empty net.

All of a sudden – and for a while – calamity looked as though it could  be United's. Liverpool were now the better team.

Harry Maguire made a great block to deny Gakpo and then Lammens hacked a ball off his line after a scramble at a set piece.

For both teams a draw seemed palatable as the clock ran down but Carrick’s United are running hot in a way that Liverpool are not.

Benjamin Sesko bundled Manchester United's second over the line just eight minutes later

The defending champions’ efforts at the back end of games have been pretty woeful this season. And so when Alexis MacAllister cleared Luke Shaw’s cross to the edge of the penalty area with 13 minutes left, it was no great surprise that Kobbie Mainoo was there to drive the ball back low and hard and in to the corner.

It was an emphatic finish and it seemed appropriate. For United’s football had been this way and Liverpool’s had not. Liverpool were much better in the second half but still needed two United mistakes to get them back in to the game.

Over the piece, they were pretty limp going forward. No cleverness, no element of surprise and certainly no pace.

United remain far from the perfect team but they do know how to make things happen and here – when they needed to – they absolutely did. At times they did here what Liverpool used to do to them. Soaked up pressure, stole the ball and then sprang forward devastatingly.

Dominik Szoboszlai halved the deficit for Liverpool after Amad's error early in the second half

Indeed, their start was breathtaking. Carrick’s team had been out of the blocks quickly against Brentford on Monday but this was Liverpool so this meant more.

United have pace to burn these days. Their opponents are not so blessed, especially with players like Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike missing.

So we were treated to the sight of United sitting happily in their own half and watching Liverpool pass the ball around in front of them. Then, when they took possession themselves, they were able to break with menace. Liverpool couldn’t cope and were fortunate only to be two goals down by half-time.

United’s first goal came from a corner and though it carried a little luck, it was also the result of early pressure.

Liverpool only half cleared the ball to the edge of the penalty area and when Cunha’s first shot came back to him off Ryan Gravenberch, his second struck MacAllister and bobbled in to the corner past Freddie Woodman in the visitors’ goal.

Woodman has enjoyed himself since replacing Giorgi Mamardashvili towards the end of the Merseyside derby. He helped to win that game and did likewise against Crystal Palace a week later. But this was different.

Liverpool were up against it from the first whistle and by the time we had played 14 minutes, United had doubled their lead.

This one came after a long VAR check but was correctly awarded. Liverpool may have thought they had seen off the danger as Woodman blocked from Sesko. But when the ball was recycled and Shaw crossed to the far post, Bruno Fernandes’ header across goal was pawed out by the Liverpool keeper and that enabled Sesko to bundle it in.

The VAR check was for a handball against the scorer and there may have been one. But TV didn’t provide conclusive evidence and United had distance between themselves and their opponents.

It had been a frantic start but the game settled into a rhythm for a while thereafter. Liverpool had plenty of the ball but did nothing with it. By half-time, all Slot’s team had to show for their territory were two shots wide from 20 yards and one from Gravenberch that arrived from even further out and was saved by Lammens comfortably.

United, meanwhile, continued to carry intent and menace. Indeed when Bryan Mbeumo broke down the right to cross low, Fernandes should have done better than drill a first-time shot wide of the near post from twelve yards. Had that one gone in to make it 3-0, we would have been spared all the subsequent drama and excitement.

Cody Gakpo then levelled terms after a wayward pass out from goalkeeper Serge Lammens

As it was, when Liverpool did find a way back in to the game it was completely unexpected. Carrick made a change at half-time as Amad replaced Sesko and one of the young forward’s first contributions was to pass the ball straight to Szoboszlai.

The Hungarian still had half of the field to navigate but with United defenders backing off, he turned past Maguire comfortably and pulled his left-foot shot across Lammens and into the corner from 14 yards.

One mistake was careless and shouldn’t have been cause for panic. The second, coming in the 56th minute, was unforgivable. This one came from the modern obsession with short goal kicks and blew up in United’s face as Lammens passed straight to MacAllister and he worked the ball to Szobozslai who squared calmly for Gakpo to score.

Utter embarrassment suddenly beckoned for United and for a while it looked possible. Liverpool were the better team for twenty minutes and half chances were theirs. They needed to take one, though, and that they didn’t eventually cost them. Mainoo’s finish really was fabulous.

Liverpool pushed again at the end. It would have been hard to begrudge them a point. But the right side of the fine margins continue to elude them and a cameo from young winger Rio Ngumoah wasn’t enough to save them.

This was league defeat number eleven for Slot’s team. Sunderland and Leeds – both promoted last season – have lost only one more each. Both United and Liverpool will in all likelihood both play Champions League next season but they way they feel about that will be quite different.

- IAN LADYMAN

MOST CHANCES CREATED | PREMIER LEAGUE

 

WHAT VIRGIL VAN DIJK, ANDY ROBINSON AND ARNE SLOT SAID ABOUT MOHAMED SALAH 'APOLOGY' IN MILAN

Liverpool's manager, captain and vice-captain were all asked about the absent Salah after the Reds won 1-0 at the San Siro on Tuesday

Virgil van Dijk spoke about Mohamed Salah's situation(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah wasn't in Milan in person, but that didn't stop him being a topic of conversation after Liverpool pulled off an excellent 1-0 win over Inter Milan courtesy of a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.

The Hungarian's spot kick - controversially awarded after a tug of Florian Wirtz's shirt - restored a feelgood factor to Liverpool after Salah's extraordinary outburst following Saturday's 3-3 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road which has placed his future at he club in serious doubt.

Broadcasters Amazon Prime Video were keen to get the views of Liverpool's captain, vice-captain and head coach following the victory, specifically around whether or not Salah had apologised to the club and his team-mates, and here's what all of them said:

Dominik Szoboszlai fired home the only goal(Image: Getty Images)

Ian Doyle

Mohamed Salah sees one Liverpool role filled already as Arne Slot gets message he was waiting for

Liverpool FC

Arne Slot guided Liverpool to a 1-0 win at Inter Milan(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Paul Gosrt

Arne Slot yet to answer £200m Liverpool question as Reds boss sends Ibrahima Konate message

 Liverpool FC

 "Obviously it's difficult but its a collective difficult situation we're all in. Obviously between Mo and the club things are going on and the consequences means he is not here today. That is the reality but nothing changes for our motivation to get results for the club."An apology? I don't think I am the one who has to speak about if someone has to apologise. It's him airing his feelings, and that is something the club has to deal with and me as well. Nothing has really changed, we've have our responsibility. So the focus was there. Nothing has changed and he trained as well by the way.""The reality is Mo is also going to Africa at the weekend, I have known Mo for such a long time, been through a lot, highs and lows, we're a big part of this at LFC, so we speak and those types of things will stay indoors as they should. And we as a team of players we raise ourselves and be against the outside noise and I encourage the players to listen."

Vice-captain Andy Robertson

"A tough situation obviously. We are talking about, for me, one of the greatest players to ever play for the club.

"Whatever happens happens internally now and we are all together and that's the main thing in the changing room and I think you can see that today.

"(Will it be resolved?) That will be up to other people, it's not up to me. I love playing with Mo Salah and hope to continue to play with him."

And head coach Arne Slot told the broadcaster, including pundit Clarence Seedorf who had asked about a potential apology from Salah:

"I think tonight it should be all about a team like this tonight, against a team like this who are winning and a stadium like this. The focus should be on that tonight. I can fully understand if I go into the press conference on Friday and all the questions are on Mo but I think these players deserve for it to be about them tonight."You say everyone makes mistakes in life but then it should be does the player think he has made a mistake as well? And then the next question is does this come from me or him?"

Slot was later asked about Salah again at his post match-press conference, and brought up Seedorf's words:

"I am happy that you asked that," he said. "Clarence said that in his opinion [Mo and I should speak] and I said that is his opinion and I didn’t say anything about who should make the first step or whatever.

"It was his opinion and I am happy I can clarify that so the headline tomorrow is not what I have said. It was [Seedorf's] opinion. Where I stand on that is that tonight it should be all about the players that are here.

"In the rich history of Liverpool, they have had many of these evenings, but after the season we are in, if you have an away win in this stadium against this team then it should be about the midfield or about Ibou (Konate) or the players who are here. They deserve all the credit.

"I can understand on Friday I will get a lot of questions about other things but tonight it is about the ones who are here."

- Paul Gorst & Mark Jones

SZOBOSZLAI'S FREE-KICK SINKS ARSENAL | LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL

 

LIVERPOOL'S SET PIECES STREER SLOT & CO. TO WIN IN MILAN

Szoboszlai's second-half goal capped a good evening for Liverpool, who rallied from an early deficit to beat Milan in their Champions League opener. Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images

MILAN, Italy -- Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 Champions League win against AC Milan in their opening game of the new expanded competition, but Arne Slot's team had to fight back from conceding a third-minute Christian Pulisic stunner to seal victory in San Siro.

With seven-time European champions Milan facing six-time winners Liverpool, it was the perfect glamour clash for UEFA to launch their new-look league phase of the competition. Although Pulisic's goal gave Liverpool an early scare and offered Milan hope of a surprise win, the reality turned out to be different with Liverpool making easy work of the home side.

Mohamed Salah struck the crossbar twice before defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk both scored headers from set pieces to give Liverpool a 2-1 half-time lead. A Dominik Szoboszlai goal on 67 minutes made the game safe for Liverpool, but their win was never in doubt after they had cancelled out Pulisic's opener. -- Mark Ogden

Liverpool's set piece threat evident under Slot

It is still early days for Slot at Liverpool, but his team's first two goals against Milan showed a subtle change in approach under the former Feyenoord coach from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp's Liverpool were all about the goals of his attacking players and midfielders rather than relying too heavily on the training ground work of converting set pieces. But goalscoring headers from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the first-half highlighted Slot's readiness to take advantage of the physical attributes of his defenders, who are both well over 6 feet tall.

First, Konate powerfully headed Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick past flailing keeper Mike Maignan from inside the six-yard box, before Van Dijk did the same from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. Both goals were simple and direct, further proof of Slot's work with this team.

Arne Slot's side masterfully exploited set pieces to seize control of Tuesday's game in Milan. Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

It also bears noting that as impressive as Liverpool were in their execution, Milan were abject when it came to defending. Centre-halves Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic were far too passive in dealing with both deliveries, and Konate and Van Dijk will not have easier chances all season. Their aerial threat is without question and Liverpool will score more goals from set pieces by exploiting these strengths this season. -- Ogden

"Captain America" starts brightly before Milan fade

Christian Pulisic's night could not have gotten off to a better start. A lay-off from Álvaro Morata, a no-show of defense from Tsimikas and there he was, scything down the right flank and smacking a diagonal finish past Alisson, avoiding the recovery challenge of a desperate Alexis Mac Allister.

However, things went downhill from there, partly because Milan failed to get him the ball, and partly because, with Liverpool on the front foot, Pulisic found himself spending a lot of time tracking back to help Davide Calabria cope with Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota on the left side of Liverpool's attack.

Pulisic's third-minute goal had things neatly poised for a fairytale Milan night at the San Siro, except Liverpool's rally rendered it a frustrating footnote. Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images

Pulisic's chemistry with Morata is also something that coach Paulo Fonseca will want to work on. Opening goal aside, the U.S. and Spain internationals failed to connect, especially when Morata dropped deep from his central striker position. Off the ball, he was his usual industrious self, but more menace toward Alisson's goal would have been welcomed. -- Gab Marcotti

Alexander-Arnold, Leão show their good and bad sides

The head-to-head encounter between AC Milan forward Rafael Leão and Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold perfectly summed up the strengths and weaknesses of two of the most talented but infuriating players in the game.

Leão's performance was more straightforward in that he produced only glimpses of his best for Paulo Fonseca's team. The Portugual international has pace and trickery -- enough to beat any defender on his day -- but there was no final product against Liverpool. On one first-half occasion, Leão ran 40 yards with the ball to excite the crowd, but rather than spot the unmarked runners either side of him, he ran into trouble and lost possession. It summed up his night until a rare flash of his talent when he hit the post in the 96th minute.

Alexander-Arnold had more good contributions than bad, but there is no question that he remains a problem defensively. On more than one occasion, centre-half Konate had to urge his teammate to get back into position after he had wandered into midfield or stayed forward after an attacking move. Had Leão been more aware of his surroundings, he would have targeted the gaps left by Alexander-Arnold and hurt Liverpool, but it didn't happen.

The England star also wasted possession too often, but he did create Liverpool's opening goal for Konate with his famed set piece delivery from a free kick.

It is the same as ever with Alexander-Arnold. He's great at what he's good at, but his weaknesses can be bad and ugly for Liverpool. -- Ogden

Maignan injury could hurt Milan in the long term

The sight of "Magic" Mike Maignan pounding the turf in frustration after picking up an injury in a collision with Fikayo Tomori early in the second half was rough for Milanisti to take, maybe even more than the defeat.

The French goalkeeper, who on three occasions had asked for treatment in the first half, was in visible pain as he exited the pitch. At best, he's a doubt for the Milan derby this weekend; at worst, we're talking a longer stay on the sidelines.

It's worth noting that he had been nursing an issue with his calf in recent days, but assured the team he was ready to play. Had Sportiello, who injured himself in preseason and is likely out until January, been fit, he may well have started. As it turned out, Maignan's fitness probably didn't help on either of Liverpool's set piece goals.

Maignan was in need of medical attention several times in the first half before finally being replaced early in the second. How long he's out could determine Milan's fortunes this season. Fabrizio Carabelli/PA Images via Getty Images

To make matters worse, his back-up, former Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello, is currently injured, which explains why Fonseca had to turn to 19-year-old Lorenzo Torriani -- who had never before played a single minute of first-team football -- to replace Maignan. In fact, Torriani was only the third-choice keeper last year ... for Milan's under-21 side.

Talk about being thrown in at the deep end.

There wasn't much Torriani could do for the Szoboszlai goal, and he certainly looked confident on the pitch. He wasn't afraid to play out from the back like Maignan likes to do and, on one occasion, he raced out of his penalty box to boot away a long ball over the top. All in all, it wasn't a bad debut, but probably best for Milan if they don't need to see him again for a while. -- Marcotti

Why the subdued crowd?

On Saturday, 71,273 supporters -- a near sell-out -- filled San Siro to watch Milan take on newly-promoted Venezia in a Serie A match as the hosts romped to a 4-0 win. Four days later, just 59,826 showed up for the visit of six-time European champion Liverpool in the Rossoneri's opening game of the revamped UEFA Champions League.

How do you explain the missing 11,000-plus fans? It's obviously not the prestige of the occasion or the opponent; instead, a clue might be in the prices charged.

The cheapest available tickets cost €74 ($82) with the least expensive in the lower tier going for €124 ($138). By contrast, Liverpool's most expensive regular adult seats clock in at £61 ($80). This led to pushback from fans on social media and, predictably, several swathes of empty seats on Tuesday night.

The Champions League is obviously a cash cow for clubs in terms of gate receipts, but obviously, you have to ensure you get those backsides into the seats. -- Marcotti

Milan too meek for Zlatan's liking

They waited, as they usually do, until deep in injury time and then let them have it.

Milan's players lined up in front of the Curva Sud, ostensibly to thank the club's black-clad hardcore Ultras fans for their support, but really to let them vent. And vent they did, singing "Let's see some b---s!" and "We're sick of this!"

Obviously, no fan is going to be happy with a 3-1 home defeat on the opening day of the new Champions League, but the manner spoke to a more complex issue engulfing the club: the idea that coach Paulo Fonseca is too much of a nice guy, that some players are soft and that there's a need for a hard man -- a "football man" -- to bring discipline.

That man, of course, is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is on the board of RedBird, the club's owners. Nobody doubts that he's a tough guy and a winner and his arrival in the summer was hailed as a coup. Finally, a former player upstairs who could command everyone's respect and be a conduit between dressing room, coach, front office and ownership.

Ibrahimovic had been away ("personal reasons," he said) prior to this match and before kickoff, he went straight into Zlatan mode. Referring to his absence, he said: "When the lion goes away, the cats come out. When the the lion returns, the cats disappear." He then added: "What's my role? It's simple. Plenty of people talk, but I'm in charge. I am the boss and everybody works for me."

If that's the case, he's got his work cut out for him, because Milan have won just one of their first five games this season in all competitions. Time will tell whether he's the butt-kicking boss who gets everyone onside or whether he's more like that old "Saturday Night Live" skit. -- Marcotti

- Mark Ogden & Gab Marcotti

HUNGARY STAR BARNABAS VARGA PICTURED IN HOSPITAL AFTER HORROR COLLISION AT EURO 2024

 Hungary forward Barnabas Varga has been visited by manager Marco Rossi and his team-mates in hospital, after he was stretchered off against Scotland with a fractured cheek.

Hungary's head coach, Marco Rossi, his staff and player Endre Botka have visited Barnabas Varga in the hospital to offer their support.

Varga copped a nasty collision with Scotland's goalie Angus Gunn during their Euro 2024 group game clincher. He was knocked out cold and gotrushed to the hospital, waking up to a busted cheek.

He is now able to take guests, and has been pictured smiling from his hospital bed, flashing a grin and thumbs-up. Rossi and the squad, along with the medical heroes treating him, are all seen beaming around his bed.

The Hungary FA dropped a line saying: "Led by Marco Rossi, some members of the professional staff and Endre Botka, representing the players, visited Barnabas Varga in Klinikum Stuttgart. The visitors interpreted the wishes of the whole team for the player."

Varga's gone under the knife to fix his injured face. His pals flipped him into the recovery pose before skipper Dominik Szoboszlai and the med team shuffled in a stretcher, reports the Mirror.

The Hungary players threw up a human shield and sheets up on the pitch to keep it all private.

After some claps from the crowd, he scooted off to get patched up in Stuttgart. Come Monday, the Hungary FA said Varga had clocked some proper gnarly face damage and a scrambled noggin.

"Several bones in Barnabas Varga's face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion," they said in a statement. "The Ferencvaros striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him! ".

- Harry Thompson 

EURO 2024: SZOBOSZLAI LAMENTS MEDICS' SPEED ON VARGA INJURY

Dominik Szoboszlai argued with medical staff to move faster after the injury. James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

 Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai has criticised medical staff for their slow response to his teammate Barnabás Varga's nasty collision during Sunday's 1-0 Euro 2024 win over Scotland in Stuttgart.

Szoboszlai was among Hungarian players waving frantically for help as Varga, who fractured several bones in his face, lay motionless on the ground after a collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn 68 minutes into the game.

When help finally arrived, Szoboszlai was seen grabbing the stretcher to try to hurry the medics along.

Varga was wheeled away for treatment, concealed behind a large brown cover held by officials.

"I don't understand this kind of protocol, why the medical staff don't rush in at this time?" Szoboszlai told Hungarian reporters.

"This question remains for everyone, so I hope that everyone can save a few seconds and save a life," Szoboszlai, who was briefly in tears over the collision, said.

"I hope we will never have to experience this again ... something needs to be done."

UEFA issued a statement on Monday, insisting there was "no delay" in getting treatment to Varga.

The statement added that the pitchside emergency team "arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital."

Coach Marco Rossi confirmed Varga regained consciousness before leaving the field and was taken to hospital where his condition was stable.

Hungary must wait for the outcome of other group matches to see if they will advance to the next round as one of four best third-place finishers.

The Varga incident seemed to spur Hungary on after what had been a dismal game with few chances, Szoboszlai's team stepping up a gear with a flurry of late opportunities that led to Kevin Csoboth's breakaway goal in the 100th minute after a lengthy period of stoppage time.

Szoboszlai celebrated the victory by wearing Varga's spare shirt turned back to front.

- Reuters 

LIVERPOOL MISS CHANCE TO GO TOP AFTER DRAW WITH MAN UNITED

Mohamed Salah scored a late equaliser from a penalty as Liverpool escaped Old Trafford with a point in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday to end the weekend second in the Premier League table.

Salah stroked home in the 84th minute for his sixth league goal at Old Trafford, the most of any visiting player in the league's history, overtaking Steven Gerrard's five.

With seven games remaining in the neck-and-neck title race, Liverpool and Arsenal have 71 points with Mikel Arteta's team leading on goal difference. Reigning champions Manchester City are third on 70 points, while United are sixth.

Luis Díaz got Liverpool on the scoreboard in the  minute when Dominik Szoboszlai swung in a corner that Darwin Nunez headed to the unmarked Colombian who hooked in a volley from close range.

But Bruno Fernandes scored a wild goal -- the United skipper's 50th league goal for the side -- with their first shot on target in the 50th minute when he latched on to a loose Liverpool pass and lobbed the ball from the centre circle past keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Kobbie Mainoo had the Old Trafford faithful roaring with his rocket from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed into the far top corner in the 67th minute. The 18-year-old sprinted to the corner flag to salute the crowd.

Liverpool were awarded their penalty when Harvey Elliott was taken down in the box. 

- ESPN

LIVERPOOL'S DEPTH MAKES THEM FA CUP AND PREMIER LEAGUE FAVES

It was truly a team effort in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup as manager Jurgen Klopp was missing several preferred starters, but the players available stepped up. Julian Finney/Getty Images

 LONDON -- Liverpool's 2-0 win at Arsenal to advance deeper into the FA Cup was impressive enough, but if you consider the rollcall of players who weren't involved at the Emirates, it gives an indication of just why the Reds are serious contenders in four competitions this season.

The irreplaceable Mohamed Salah had already departed for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt prior to this third-round FA Cup tie, and midfielder Wataru Endo has also signed off for at least a month to join Japan's attempt to win the Asian Cup. But Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also without Virgil van Dijk, Joël Matip, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai and Stefan Bajcetic due to injury or illness.

Yet, despite that list of absentees, Liverpool were still able to book their place into the fourth round because of the sheer depth of Klopp's squad.

Managers only tend to talk about injuries and the impact they have on a team when their sides lose -- it's a useful excuse to suggest that prospects of winning are diminished when key players aren't available. But that kind of deflection tactic doesn't really work when a side like Liverpool can travel to Arsenal -- the FA Cup's most successful-ever club -- and win without so many crucial players.

This was a big test for Klopp and his players, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta making only limited changes to his first-choice team, but they came through it.

And with a growing fixture list ahead -- which includes the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League, as well as the challenge of fending off the threat of champions Manchester City at the top of the Premier League -- Liverpool showed that they can ride out the storm of injury, illness and international tournaments to keep their foot on the pedal in all four competitions.