Amad Diallo netted a 121st minute winner as Manchester United beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra-time to reach the 2023-24 FA Cup semi-finals.
Diallo struck a 121st minute winner into the bottom-right corner on a last-gasp counter-attack to seal a dramatic victory for Utd, who have reached the FA Cup semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-04 & 04-05 seasons.
Diallo however was sent off for taking his shirt off during the wild celebrations following his winning goal.
Scott McTominay initially fired Utd in front in the 10th minute before Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead with late first-half goals.
Antony equalised for Utd in the 87th minute only for Harvey Elliott to fire Liverpool back in front in the first half of extra time, prior to Marcus Rashford’s 112th minute equaliser which sparked the hosts’ eventual victory.
Speaking to MUTV post-match, Diallo was just grateful to score as he described the opportunity to even be playing as a “dream.”
“Every moment is like a dream. In the training, in the pitch, every year is a friend for me.
“I am very happy to score today.”
Although their second season under Erik ten Hag has been difficult compared to an in-form free-scoring Liverpool, Man Utd unexpectedly made the brightest start in the fourth minute as Marcus Rashford played an one-two move with Kobbie Mainoo into the box.
Rashford’s scruffy shot from Mainoo return pass was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool meanwhile struggled to settle and impose themselves upon a more compact Utd as Mohamed Salah flicked wide across goal in the eighth minute.
Utd soon punished that chance two minutes later as Rashford teed up Garnacho to fire upon goal, but Kelleher only blocked his shot out to McTominay who smashed in on the rebound to send the home crowd wild in celebrations.
That goal also came as a confidence dent for Liverpool who had won just one of four previous FA Cup ties against Utd played at Old Trafford prior to this meeting.
Klopp’s Reds almost equalised in the 14th minute as Mac Allister picked up Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass and played an one-two move with Luis Diaz, only to put his shot wide.
Szoboszlai then fired wide on the half-hour mark after Andrew Robertson’s cross was headed away by Raphael Varane into the Hungarian’s path.
Utd almost punished Liverpool’s wasted chances in the 35th minute as McTominay met Rashford’s cutback pass, but Kelleher was alert to make a crucial save.
Liverpool soon thought that they had equalised in the 37th minute through Waturu Endo’s strike from Salah’s pass, only for the Egyptian to had been adjudged offside by Video-Assistant Referee and his goal was disallowed.
That injustice only motivated Liverpool even more and they found a first-half equaliser in the 44th minute, courtesy of Jarell Quansah’s bravery to get into the box to find Darwin Nunez, but the Uruguayan laid off a pass for Mac Allister to smash in beyond Andre Onana’s reach.
Mac Allister’s goal sparked further life into Liverpool which paid off in the second minute of first-half injury-time, as Joe Gomez’s cross was converted onto goal by Nunez but Onana parried his save out for Salah to lash in on the rebound from close-range to put the visitors ahead at half-time.
Utd haven’t lost at home since the turn of 2024 when they scored the opening goal and at 2-1 down, they started the second half on the front foot, but Bruno Fernandes could only fire wide across the goal in the 53rd minute albeit via Quansah’s touch.
Nunez too dragged his shot wide a minute later as Liverpool fought to extend their lead, although the Reds repeatedly were frustrated whenever they broke forward – during which Szoboszlai was fouled by Fernandes as his 57th minute shot was blocked by a Utd defender.
Onana meanwhile crucially blocked Nunez’s 64th minute strike towards the near top-right corner then saved Salah’s curled strike a minute later.
Liverpool proceeded to seemingly cruise towards the final semi-final spot until Garnacho picked up a pass late in the 86th minute, from which he weaved into the box and teed up substitute, Antony into a low strike on the spin which flew in to level the score.
United went on to end the second half with the momentum but couldn’t find a winner as Liverpool clung on to force extra time, after Utd’s Rashford fired wide in the final minute of four minutes of additional time.
Once extra time commenced, Antony almost curled Utd ahead in the 92nd minute but just put too much power on his shot as it flew over the bar.
Mac Allister moments later saw a shot saved by Onana then headed wide from substitute, Cody Gakpo’s cross.
Liverpool continued to press hard throughout the first 15 minutes of extra time and got their third goal in the 105th minute, after Elliott won possession and fired across into the left corner from 25 yards albeit via Christian Eriksen’s deflection.
Man Utd however refused to settle for a Quarter-Final exit and once again pulled back level as McTominay won possession and slid the ball through into the box, which found Rashford to fire in to lift the home crowd’s mood.
McTominay four minutes later dragged a shot wide from Rashford’s pass as Utd desperately tried to avoid penalties, which was luckily prevented as the Red Devils broke forward with Garnacho who teed up Diallo to fire into the bottom-right corner to seal victory.
Diallo however was red carded for taking his shirt off in celebration at clinching the match winner but United clung on to end Liverpool’s title quadruple ambitions.
What’s Next?
Man Utd now head off on the international break before they return to Premier League action at relegation-battling Brentford on Easter Saturday 30 March at 8pm GMT.
Liverpool likewise will have the fortnight off before resuming their quest for the Premier League title at home to Brighton on Easter Sunday 31 March at 2pm.
Teams
Manchester United: Andre Onana, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Maguire 71′), Raphael Varane (Diallo 85′), Victor Lindelöf (Mount 105′), Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo (Eriksen 80′), Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, March Rashford, Rasmus Højlund (Antony 71′)
Substitutes: Sofyan Amrabat, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Amad Diallo, Antony, Tom Heaton, Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson
Liverpool: Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez (Tsimikas 101′), Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson (Bradley 76′), Alexis Mac Allister, Waturu Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai (Elliott 72′), Mohammed Salah (Gakpo 77′), Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz (Clark 114′)
Substitutes: Adrian, Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jayden Danns, Conor Bradley
Referee: John Brooks