Marcus Rashford scored twice in the first 24 minutes of his first start of 2018 before Manchester United held on for a 2-1 win over fierce rival Liverpool to strengthen its second place in the Premier League on Saturday.
In a typically frenetic match between England's two biggest teams historically, Liverpool failed to handle United's aggressive and direct start as two long balls forward resulted in goals from the 20-year-old Rashford in the 14th and 24th minutes.
Lackluster in the first half, Liverpool improved and reduced the deficit through an own-goal by Eric Bailly but couldn't manage an equalizer, slipping five points behind United in the race for second place behind Manchester City.
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, left, and Romelu Lukaku celebrate after scoring their sides second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Having also beaten Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford two weeks ago, United looks increasingly assured of a Champions League qualifying spot through a top-four finish. Jose Mourinho's side is 12 points clear of fifth-place Chelsea, which played later Saturday.
It was always going to be a clash of styles on Saturday, with United famously defensively sturdy under Mourinho and Liverpool prolific going forward under coach Juergen Klopp.
Unsurprisingly, United's tactics were hardly sophisticated — defend deeply and in numbers, and hit Liverpool with the long ball — but they worked perfectly, at least in the first half.
Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho, left, and Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp react on the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Liverpool center back Dejan Lovren was bullied by Romelu Lukaku, experiencing the kind of game he endured against Tottenham in October when he was embarrassingly substituted after 31 minutes.
Both of United's goals came from Lovren being knocked off balance by Lukaku after long clearances by goalkeeper David De Gea, and Rashford took full advantage.
For the first, Lukaku held his ground as Lovren bounced off him, and flicked a header onto Rashford. The 20-year-old striker cut inside right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and fizzed in a low shot that gave goalkeeper Loris Karius no chance.
For the second, Lovren actually got his head to the ball off De Gea's kick but stumbled to the ground under pressure from Lukaku, who collected possession and fed Juan Mata. Virgil van Dijk made an interception, but Rashford pounced on the loose ball to send in a shot that took a minor deflection off Alexander-Arnold's heel and span into the same corner.
It was Rashford's first Premier League double since his debut in the league, in February 2016 against Arsenal. It was his first start since Dec. 26, having fallen further down the pecking order at United following the arrival in January of Alexis Sanchez.
There was more penetration to Liverpool's play in the second half but United's defensive block initially stood firm, with central midfielders Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay not moving in front of the defense and playmaker Juan Mata playing as a virtual right back. It needed something special to bring Liverpool back into the game — and it came, unexpectedly, from Bailly.
Sadio Mane's cross from the left looked harmless until Bailly tried to acrobatically clear it, but only succeeded in volleying it downward and backward into his own net.
Mohamed Salah, the league's joint-top scorer, was fairly anonymous for Liverpool, which lost for only the second time in 21 league games.
Everton's Wayne Rooney takes and misses a penalty against Brighton & Hove Albion during their English Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, Saturday March 10, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)
Everton eases relegation concerns by beating Brighton 2-0
Everton eased its relegation concerns by beating 10-man Brighton 2-0 in the English Premier League on Saturday, despite Wayne Rooney missing a penalty.
The hosts took the lead on the hour mark through Gaetan Bong's own goal before Cenk Tosun smashed in a shot off the bar in the 76th minute, the striker's second goal in as many games.
Brighton was reduced to 10 men in the 80th when Anthony Knockaert was given a straight red card for a wild tackle on Leighton Baines.
Rooney had the chance to make it 3-0 with an 88th-minute penalty, but Mathew Ryan saved the spot kick.
Everton moved up to ninth in the Premier League with a third straight win at Goodison Park, and should be safe for another season.
Brighton's five-match unbeaten run ended and it dropped a place to 11th.
Swansea City's Jordan Ayew, right, is shown the red card by referee Michael Oliver during the game against Huddersfield Town during their English Premier League soccer match at the John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield, England, Saturday March 10, 2018. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
10-man Swansea hangs on for 0-0 draw at Huddersfield
Swansea survived with 10 men from the 11th minute to eke out a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield and inch further clear of the Premier League's relegation zone on Saturday.
Jordan Ayew was handed a straight red card for a studs-up lunge on Jonathan Hogg, leaving Swansea a huge task to take anything from John Smith's Stadium.
Expectation among the home fans gave way to frustration, however, as the visitors repelled wave after wave of attacks from Huddersfield, whose striker Steve Mounie forced a brilliant reaction save out of Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Huddersfield winger Tom Ince headed a last-minute chance against a post.
Swansea has been beaten only once in its last 14 matches and climbed to 14th, four points above the bottom three. The Welsh club is ahead of Huddersfield on goal difference.
Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho, centre, celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game against West Brom during their English Premier League soccer match at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, England, Saturday March 10, 2018. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Pardew's future bleak after West Brom's 7th straight loss
lan Pardew's future as West Bromwich Albion manager looks bleak after losing to Leicester 4-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Jamie Vardy netted a volley and Riyad Mahrez, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Vicente Iborra also scored for eighth-place Leicester.
They cancelled out Salomon Rondon's early opener for the hosts.
It was Albion's seventh straight loss in all competitions and the side remains bottom, eight points from safety.
When Pardew was hired in November, West Ham was two points above the relegation zone.
Chelsea's Willian celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Chelsea beats Palace in EPL before trip to Barcelona
Chelsea prepared for its Champions League trip to Barcelona by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday to close the gap on the English Premier League top four to two points.
Palace defender Martin Kelly had an inadvertent hand in both goals. Willian's opener in the 25th minute took a deflection off Kelly. Then an attempt to clear Davide Zappacosta's shot in the 32nd hit goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and came off Kelly again before going over the line.
Former Chelsea academy graduate Patrick van Aanholt pulled one back in the 90th but it was too late for Palace to stave off a fourth successive loss. The south London club remains winless in its last seven games and lodged in the relegation zone.
The struggle for Chelsea is to secure one of the four Champions League places. Tottenham, which plays Bournemouth on Sunday, is two points ahead of Chelsea in fourth place.
Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League could rest on winning the competition for a second time. Antonio Conte's side is locked with Barcelona at 1-1 heading into the second leg on Wednesday.