There’s still some fight left in Manchester United. With the season hanging in the balance, Erik ten Hag’s team produced one of the most important wins of his tenure to beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling FA Cup quarterfinal match on Sunday.
Substitute Amad Diallo practically blew the roof off Old Trafford when he netted the winner in the 121st minute after Marcus Rashford equalized eight minutes earlier and the 12-time FA Cup winners booked a semifinal spot against second-tier Coventry City.
Defending champions Manchester City will play Chelsea in the other semifinal. Both FA Cup semifinals will take place at Wembley on the weekend of April 20-21.
Time will tell just how significant a result this will be for Ten Hag, who has faced mounting speculation about his position in the face of a troubled campaign and restructuring at the club.
The Dutchman, however, hopes it will be the catalyst to turn around their Premier League fortunes.
“Every team needs its moment into a season and we never had that moment,” the United manager said. “This could be that moment where the team believe and (has) energy that we can do amazing things. I think when you can beat Liverpool the way we did, then you can beat any opponent. It’s up to us to prove that point.”
United are sixth in the standings, a massive 17 points behind Liverpool in second but, more importantly, they are nine points off fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot for next season, albeit with a game in hand.
The game at Old Trafford had looked like going to a penalty shootout until Amad fired low into the bottom corner to beat Caoimhin Kelleher following a late Liverpool corner. The substitute was so caught up in the moment that he was shown a second yellow card and sent off for taking off his jersey during wild celebrations.
“It’s the best goal of my life, it’s a really important moment. You need to believe in every single moment, this is football,” he said. “I am disappointed to be sent off, but what is important is to win. To beat Liverpool is a big, big moment for me.”
The FA Cup loss ended Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple of trophies. Juergen Klopp’s team has already won the League Cup, is second in the league and through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
FA Cup Semis Line-up:
Coventry vs Manchester United;
Manchester City vs Chelsea;
**(Ties to played at Wembley on the weekend of April 20-21).