Erik ten Hag’s managerial career was launched at the start of the previous campaign when he managed a 2-1 Premier League triumph against Liverpool at Old Trafford. After losing his first two games, no one had predicted this. Reminiscent of a fairytale.

This season has soured a little bit because to the mounting challenges, but now we’ve defeated Liverpool once more, something not many people were expecting. It felt like the outcome that could save Ten Hag in the heat of the moment, as a euphoric United audience anticipated an FA Cup semi-final against Coventry, who are, of course, managed by their former cup hero, Mark Robins.

At the very least, he had required a performance from his team so that the players could demonstrate some personality. A win would also be excellent in order to extend their season, as it seems unlikely that they will qualify for the Champions League through Premier League standings (though who knows on this evidence?).

Ten Hag was rewarded with everything as Liverpool experienced its first genuine upturn following Jürgen Klopp’s declaration in late January that he would leave his position as manager at the end of the campaign. It’s over to dream of a four-trophy send-off.

Liverpool contributed to an incredible thriller. In the second half of regulation time, they were the superior team as they attempted to seal a 2-1 victory. A few of United’s players stood up and looked around. However, that was the beginning of the madness.

You would have had a very slim chance of identifying United’s original savior. There has just been one opinion about Antony this season; there hasn’t been any disagreement. However, there he was, coming on as a substitute, spinning and hitting a low shot into the bottom corner after receiving a touch following an incision from the unstoppable Alejandro Garnacho in the 87th minute. Additionally with his right foot—a statement that almost begs for an exclamation point. Antony was quite good. He is deserving of the recognition.

Harvey Elliott, a Liverpool substitute, still had time to float a cross against the far post, and Marcus Rashford wasted a fantastic chance with the final kιck of normal time. There was hardly a United supporter in the stadium who did not have their hands over their heads when Rashford, after being freed by Christian Eriksen, pushed his shot past the far post.

Extra time veered left and then right. United was in the lead until Elliott delivered the epitome of a sucker puncҺ, beating André Onana with a long-range shot that saw the ball ricochet off Eriksen.

Ten Hag had just two recognized defenders on the field (Diogo Dalot and another substitute, Harry Maguire) when he brought on Mason Mount for Victor Lindelöf in the 116th minute. Mount had not played since November. The configuration was 3-2-4-1, with Antony positioned at left back.

United rallied back, and Rashford had to provide the equalizer to give them some hope after Maguire had struck straight at Caoimhín Kelleher. Not that it really disappeared from them. For Ten Hag, this was the most important detail. The last pass was made by Scott McTominay, and Rashford completed the task.

McTominay would squander a fantastic opportunity from a Rashford cross. Penalties were imminent. And yet there was one last surprise. Another substitute, Amad Diallo, contributed to Rashford’s goal by getting a foot to a pass from Darwin Núñez to recapture possession.

Now that one hundred and twenty minutes had passed, his time came. After gaining possession, United got past Garnacho. inevitably. Additionally, the winger drilled a low finish into the far corner as he moved left to find Amad. It was just his second goal for United. And chaos ensued.

Earlier, Amad had received a somewhat harsh booking after Alexis Mac Allister threw a hastily taken free kιck at him. When he celebrated a goal and received a second yellow card, he tore off his jersey, but no one seemed to care—not even the United supporters who cheered him on as he left the stadium.

When the last whistle blew, Antony was virtually overpowered and dropped to his knees, holding his head in his hands. The scene was striking in many more ways. After a match that had been intense from the start, with United leading the way in possession thanks to a strong start from Bobbie Mainoo, there was undoubtedly a lot to digest.

After making a deft run across and up the inside left of the area, Garnacho fired a shot that Kelleher could only parry, setting up a tap-in for McTominay to give United the lead. United had opportunities to go up 2-0, and McTominay stood out as the best after Mainoo’s twinkle-toed burst of brilliance. McTominay’s shot to Kelleher was too close.

Liverpool made a comeback. When Mohamed Salah set up Wataru Endo for a low finish in the 37th minute, they believed they had tied the score, but Salah was later found to have been slightly offside. However, Núñez’s pass set up Mac Allister, whose shot ricocheted off Mainoo to fool Onana, giving Klopp’s team a break. After Jarell Quansah broke free from Bruno Fernandes and subsequently Rashford, both United players had to play more defensively to keep the momentum going.

Before halftime in standard time, Joe Gomez stole Fernandes on the right as Liverpool applied pressure; the captain of United demanded a foul, but there was none. This gave Liverpool the upper hand. He would be charged with disobedience. Lindelöf only cleared as far as Luis Díaz, who discovered Núñez, after Gomez crossed. After cutting inside and shooting, Onana parried, and Salah finished easily to score his 13th goal versus United in 14 games.