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| Wayne Rooney celebrates his goal against Liverpool (Image credits: Getty Images) |
Manchester United can
still win the Premier League title, despite their stuttering campaign so far,
after a 1-0 victory at arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday moved them within seven
points of top spot, manager Louis van Gaal said.
Reuters report continues:
The
win moved United within sight of leaders Arsenal, who are level on 44 points
with surprise package Leicester City after sharing the points in a 0-0 draw at
Stoke City.
Asked
if United were still in the title race, the Dutchman told a news conference:
"It is seven points and seven points we can overcome that.
"This
game shall give a big boost to the players, to the fans, to everybody in the
environment of Manchester United and we have to continue of course.
"That's
not so easy, and we have seen that also today, but we can do it because we show
every week that we can do it."
"To
beat Liverpool is always important," he added. "Today it was
important because our competitors lost points and when the gap is like this we
can overturn that."
Van
Gaal has many critics among United fans but has given them at least four
reasons to smile since taking over at Old Trafford -- four wins in four league
games against Liverpool.
Sunday's
victory in the north-west derby at Anfield, thanks to Wayne Rooney's
78th-minute volley, completed a second successive league double over Liverpool
for Van Gaal following United's 3-1 win at Old Trafford in September.
Last
season United beat Liverpool 3-0 at home and 2-1 away and he was delighted
after Sunday's victory in a drab game lifted United back up to fifth in the
table.
"In
the second half we played much better and kept the ball better and created
chances and Wayne Rooney makes the fantastic goal again," Van Gaal told
Sky Sports.
Rooney's
strike, an athletic hooked volley after Marouane Fellaini's header bounced back
off the crossbar, was the one moment of true class in a game of few scoring
chances.
Liverpool
were slightly more threatening, but only really tested United keeper David De
Gea with two dangerous efforts from Roberto Firmino and Emre Can in the second
half.
"I
don't think David De Gea has done very much, two or three balls he has to stop,
a goalkeeper has to do that. He is playing very good but you cannot say he was
a fantastic, marvellous goalkeeper today," Van Gaal continued.
He
was also delighted with Rooney's winner.
"I
asked him to score here and he makes a lot of goals now in a row. I think he is
a fantastic Manchester United striker for the media but he was also that in the
first half of the season."
Rooney has now scored in
four successive games and took his league tally for United to 176 -- the record
by one player for one club in the Premier League era, passing Thierry Henry's
previous mark of 175 for Arsenal.
Wayne Rooney Goal Was Manchester
United's Only Shot On Target Against Liverpool
The
Independent UK reports that Wayne Rooney's 78th minute goal in Manchester
United's 1-0 win over Liverpool was his side's first and only shot on target at
Anfield.
The
Manchester United captain smashed the ball into the back of the net from close
range after reacting to Marouane Fellaini's header onto the Liverpool
crossbar.
The
victory was a vital one for Louis van Gaal, with reports prior to the game
suggesting the Dutchman would be sacked if he failed to get a positive result
from the game. The Manchester United manager may feel fortunate to have left
with one considering his team's failings in front of goal, aside from Rooney's
effort.
Whilst
Liverpool mustered 19 shots and called David De Gea into action four times,
Simon Mignolet was tested (and failed) just once. The goal for Manchester
United was one of seven shots in total. Rooney had one other shot, meanwhile
Anthony Martial twice fired off target and Ander Herrera, Matteo Darmian and
Fellaini also missed.
Rooney was delighted with
his goal, saying after the match: "I scored the winning goal at Anfield,
it has been a long time since that happened for me - my first year at United -
so I will be a bit selfish today and enjoy that more than most." 
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