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Liverpool vs Manchester United player ratings: Xherdan Shaqiri and Sadio Mane goals see them top rankings

We run the rule over both sets of players after a thrilling game

Harry Latham-Coyle

Sunday 16 December 2018 18:39 GMT

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Liverpool FC: A look back at 2018

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with an impressive 3-1 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Sadio Mane gave the Reds the lead early in the first-half only for Jesse Lingard to score a well-worked, if against the run of play equaliser.

But the introduction of Xherdan Shaqiri, who replaced Naby Keita midway through the second-half, was to prove key.

Shaqiri gave Liverpool the lead just two minutes after coming on and then made sure of the three points with a deflected finish shortly afterwards.

Take a look at our player ratings below.

Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Alisson - 4 out of 10

A very, very poor error to allow Lingard to equalise to allow Manchester United a foothold in the game. Untested otherwise, but fortunate it didn’t cost his side.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Nathaniel Clyne - 6

Solid on his return to Premier League action, though lacking in the overall impact that Alexander-Arnold and Gomez have given.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Dejan Lovren - 6

Could perhaps have done better to cut out Lukaku’s cross for Manchester United’s goal, though the fault obviously lies ultimately with Alisson. One chance skewed wide.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Virgil van Dijk - 7

Totally controlled Lukaku. Another strong performance from a man who is surely front-runner for Player of the Year at this stage.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Andy Robertson - 6

Seemingly every single one of his corners failed to beat the first man. Even afforded acres of room in the second half failed to produce a meaning delivery into the box.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Sadio Mane - 8

Took his goal nicely, bringing Fabinho’s pass down from an uncomfortable height superbly. Menacing throughout, from the right in the first half and the left later on.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Georginio Wijnaldum - 7

Pass, move, break up play. His evolution into an all-around central midfielder has been superb to watch. Undroppable.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Fabinho - 8

Excellent in tandem with Wijnaldum, controlling the game and finding constant pockets of space. A delightful pass for Mane’s opener. Emerging as a top Premier League defensive midfielder after initial struggles.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Naby Keita - 6

A competent, if not especially influential, performance on the left of midfield.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Roberto Firmino - 7

An assist for Shaqiri’s game sealing goal to cap a strong showing. Used the space created by Salah, Mane and Keita well to create chances in the first half.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Mohamed Salah - 7

Probably the least effective of Liverpool’s forward line but still a good performance.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

SUB: Xherdan Shaqiri - 9

Immense impact with his fortuitous deflected drive to give Liverpool the lead, and his second similarly diverted effort to extend it.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

David de Gea - 7

A string of excellent as Liverpool dominated throughout. Faultless for the three goals, and it would have been more without him.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Matteo Darmian - 6

Surprisingly solid at both centre back and right back as others around him struggled.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Eric Bailly - 5

A number of flying interventions that only served to highlight how disjointed the Manchester United defence was, particularly early on.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Victor Lindelof - 4

Really struggled with Liverpool’s movement. Looked more comfortable when the defence went to a four.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Ashley Young - 5

Should have tracked Mane’s run more effectively for the opener. He and Lindelof really struggled with Liverpool’s threat down the right early on.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Diogo Dalot - 5

While on the pitch ineffectual, though much of Liverpool’s play came down the other wing. A booking before being taken off at half time.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Ander Herrera - 4

An ill-advised, ill-timed, ill-conceived lunge on Mane allowed the Senegalese attacker to get to the byline for Shaqiri’s first. Gave the ball away far too regularly, though he was not alone in that regard among the visitors.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Nemanja Matic - 5

Failed to adequately shield a vulnerable defence.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Marcus Rashford - 5

Not his sort of game, and cut a frustrated figure at times, though he ran hard and tracked back when necessary.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Jesse Lingard - 5

On the spot to capitalise on Alisson’s blunder. Otherwise he struggled to get on the ball, and when he did struggled to keep it.

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Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings

Romelu Lukaku - 4

Three touches in the first 20 minutes, two in his own box and none in Liverpool’s half. It didn’t improve much from there, and even his cross leading to the goal found a Liverpool player.

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