It was far from comfortable, but David Moyes will sleep a little easier tonight after Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory over Liverpool to move into the Capital One Cup fourth round. It was a match that meant much more than just progress in a competition that will have featured low down the list of priorities for both Moyes and counterpart Brendan Rodgers at the start of the season.
For Moyes it was a most welcome win over major opposition since making the biggest of step-ups to take the reins at Old Trafford. And following a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, it gives him some much-needed breathing room. Given the importance the match had assumed, there was some surprise that Moyes made eight changes to his starting lineup. One of the men given a rare start under his stewardship, Javier Hernandez, proved the match winner when he volleyed home a corner in the first minute of the second half.
Up to that point, the home side had been second best. And, with Liverpool also putting United under severe pressure after going behind, Rodgers will feel his side should have at least taken the contest beyond the 90 minutes. Had the returning Luis Suarez been match-sharp, they almost certainly would have done. Liverpool had plenty of the game, but their play in the final third, where Victor Moses played behind Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, was ever so slightly, and crucially, off.
United also created their chances on the break in the second half. Wayne Rooney again impressed with Shinji Kagawa and Nani offering more creative spark than Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have provided in recent weeks, if not always an end product.
More to follow.
VIDEO Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool: Highlights; Hernandez Volley Enough To Send United Through In Capital One Cup
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