They may not have knocked them out of Europe on Thursday but Manchester United cost Liverpool three points just three days later.
That’s according to United manager Louis van Gaal who has claimed that his team wore out Liverpool to the point that they fell apart in the second half of their Premier League clash with Southampton.
Liverpool led Saints 2-0 at half-time and looked to be coasting towards a victory but Jurgen Klopp’s men came undone at the seams in the second 45 minutes as a Sadio Mane brace and a terrific Graziano Pelle strike snatched all three points from the Reds.
And after the Manchester derby, which United won 1-0, van Gaal explained that his side could take the credit for Liverpool’s loss.
“I thought we played fantastic in the first half and the second half was a test of survival because we were very tired,” added Van Gaal.
“We had only two days to recover after the Liverpool game and that is almost not possible.
“It was fantastic. We have also done it with Arsenal after that we played a Thursday and we beat them. We’ve also beaten Manchester City so I am very happy because it is not easy to win here.
“We have seen the result from Southampton today. Liverpool were 2-0 up at half-time and at full-time it was 3-2 to Southampton.
“I have not seen the match but I can only conclude it was because of tiredness and that is what we have done to them.”
