Devils deepen Reds’ woes

MANCHESTER — Manchester United heaped more misery on Liverpool by beating their great rivals 3-0 in the Premier League yesterday, earning a sixth straight win to underline the transformation in fortunes of England’s two biggest clubs.

Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata — from an offside position — scored to give United a 2-0 lead at half-time and Robin van Persie added the third in the 71st minute at Old Trafford.

While third-place United remain eight points behind leaders Chelsea to maintain their unlikely title challenge, Liverpool are mid-table and struggling to recreate the form that took them to a runners-up finish last season.

The score was harsh on Liverpool, with United goalkeeper David de Gea producing a string of brilliant saves to deny Raheem Sterling and substitute Mario Balotelli.

The visitors were also unlucky that Mata was not signalled offside when he headed home to make it 2-0 in the 40th minute, puncturing Liverpool’s bright start.

But these are worrying times for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. He is lacking a clinical finisher in the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge, his defence is in a mess and he has doubts about his first-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who was dropped here for Brad Jones. It ended a miserable week for Liverpool, who were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday.

Without hitting anywhere near top form, United are perhaps making the title race a three-team fight. Louis van Gaal’s side have no European or English League Cup commitments to clog up their schedule this season.

Having spent around US$250 million (S$328.5 million) bolstering their squad in the last offseason, a title challenge is probably the least United’s fans and owners expect — although none of the summer signings even started against Liverpool. Van Gaal is getting results with the players he inherited from Moyes, and with a dose of fortune.

Six days after scraping a 2-1 win at Southampton, United took the lead in the 12th minute — just 25 seconds after Sterling , playing as a lone forward, was denied by De Gea in a one-on-one chance. United counter-attacked, Antonio Valencia played the ball between Joe Allen’s legs on the right wing and crossed for Rooney to apply a side-footed finish inside the near post.

Liverpool were crisper with their passing and had more possession, but squandered a number of openings before Mata doubled the lead.

Again, it was good delivery from the flanks, with Ashley Young whipping in a cross from the left that was flicked on by Van Persie for Mata to stoop and head in from close range at the far post.

Sterling was presented with another great chance at the start of the second half after pouncing on Jonny Evans’ weak back-pass. The England international darted to the left of De Gea, who made up the ground to block Sterling’s tame left-footed shot.

De Gea then tipped Balotelli’s attempt onto the bar in his best intervention before Van Persie made it 3-0. Dejan Lovren miscued his clearance from Rooney’s cross and the ball went straight to Mata, who passed to his right for Van Persie to slot home.

There was still time for De Gea to deny Balotelli again and ensure United reversed the 3-0 score from the corresponding fixture last season in March. AP