ReactionFabinho: United win was big for the fans and great for confidence

The Reds followed up their 5-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season with another memorable display against their fierce rivals on Tuesday night.

Luis Diaz’s fifth-minute goal set them on their way and he was joined on the scoresheet by Mohamed Salah, whose brace took his season total to 30, and Sadio Mane.

Another scintillating performance took Jürgen Klopp’s team to the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.

Fabinho felt there were multiple positives to take from the team’s work against United, telling Liverpoolfc.com post-match: “Now, we play just important games.

“Of course the three points is always important, but we want to play good football, we want to play our best football, to be on the highest level of intensity, play with quality on the ball because we have a lot of quality in this team.

“It was, if not perfect, almost a perfect game. It was a big game for our fans as well, so it was important to put a performance like this against a team like Man United. It’s really good for us and for confidence as well.”

Liverpool set about their task ferociously from kick-off and were full value for the two-goal advantage they had gained at the interval through team goals finished off by Diaz and Salah.

Having held at bay a response from United following the restart, the hosts put the contest to bed in the final quarter courtesy of Mane and then Salah again.

“It was a really good performance from everyone,” said Fabinho. “Since the start of the game we put the intensity we wanted to put.

“We created a lot of chances. With the ball we were patient, with a lot of quality. We recovered a lot of balls in the offensive part of the field – this is really important. Then I think 4-0 is [justified] for the game we played.”

With six matches remaining, the Premier League title race continues in fascinating fashion, and next up for Klopp’s men is a Merseyside derby on Sunday afternoon.

“First of all, we have to focus on our games and try to win every game that we have. Now, maybe City have a little bit of pressure,” added Fabinho.

“We have to try to recover, recover the legs; we will have a day off, it’ll be important for us. Me personally, I will watch Man City’s games but as I said, we have to focus first on our games and try to win our games.”