3 players to shout about after Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Manchester United

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Liverpool beat Manchester United 4-2 on Thursday evening – a huge win in their bid for a top-four spot. Here are the three standout players as we saw it.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Let’s start with the most obvious one. Alexander-Arnold was absolutely fantastic from start to finish against United and played as big a part as anyone in the 4-2 win.

He created a monstrous five chances in the game – two more than anyone else on the pitch. That included a picture-perfect free-kick to setup the second goal, of course.

But Alexander-Arnold was creating chances from the get-go and was unlucky not to have more than the one assist. Add in his fantastic defensive display (not dribbled past once, game-high three interceptions) and it’s hard to see a single fault.

A magnificent display.

Roberto Firmino

Two goals, two created chances, and could have had even more. This was Firmino back to his best and, arguably, his finest performance of the entire season.

We wrote before the game that he should return to the XI, seeing a big role for Firmino. He delivered that in a far bigger way than we thought, however.

The Brazilian was sharp, fluid and devastating. Brendan gave him a 9 in his Player Ratings for the game – fully deserved. He could have gone higher.

Nat Phillips

Okay, yes – he could have done better for the first goal. But outside of that moment, Phillips put in a display we would have considered impossible back in October.

This is someone who played second-tier football in Germany last season. Phillips wasn’t supposed to play any part this season, let alone a significant one.

Yet he set up the first Liverpool goal with some nice footwork in the United box. Defensively, it was quite the display, too.

Naturally, Phillips won more defensive headers than anyone else on the pitch (4). But he also made more clearances (6) and won as many tackles as the other centre-backs combined (2). Then there was that clearance off the line.

All of this while playing alongside a wildly inexperienced Rhys Williams. Phillips wasn’t just playing a part, here, he had to lead the defence against Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.

Phillips wasn’t perfect but in about the toughest conditions he could have faced, the defender played a big part in the win. What a season he’s having.

All stats per Whoscored.