Twitter Reacts as Liverpool Claim Healthy 1st-Leg Lead over Manchester United

Tom WebbMar 10, 2016

Liverpool will take a 2-0 lead into their UEFA Europa League second-leg tie with Manchester United on March 17 after a convincing win at Anfield on Thursday.

Anticipation was high prior to the match, as the two great rivals clashed in Europe for the very first time:

"
Anfield. Top work on the programme cover for the first ever European game between Liverpool and Man United. pic.twitter.com/QeYRsYU6CF
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

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"
1 - Liverpool and Manchester United will face each other in European competition for the first time. Rivals.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 10, 2016"

Even some questionable merchandise couldn't dampen the excitement:

"
#lfc v #mufc half-and-half scarf #seriously pic.twitter.com/JTNkMGqQZA
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 10, 2016"

"
Seriously, would anyone actually buy one of these: pic.twitter.com/YKnpsK7y8E
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) March 10, 2016"

As kick-off approached, United fans were left concerned by the team news:

"
Three changes for Liverpool as Clyne, Coutinho and Sturridge return. Flanny Alves cup-tied. Attacking team. https://t.co/hezUkD1WOl
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

"
Four changes for United - Varela, Schneiderlin, Fellaini and Depay come in. Schweinsteiger on bench. No Valencia. https://t.co/GESzKoFJDj
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

"
Schweinsteiger is in the #MUFC squad for tonight's match after he passed a late fitness test. #EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/pjNuR1B2dI
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 10, 2016"

"
It's happening again, biggest game of the year and what have we done? #MUFC pic.twitter.com/KG6I28UZPY
— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) March 10, 2016"

"
Liverpool fans when they hear Fellaini is starting. pic.twitter.com/ixP8yI0iLs
— Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) March 10, 2016"

"
5 - Daniel Sturridge has scored four times and assisted another goal in his last six games v Manchester United in all comps. Favourite.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 10, 2016"

It was time for another big European night at Anfield:

"
Anfield.... pic.twitter.com/0At41HJ3XA
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 10, 2016"

"
A new chapter in the Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry about to begin pic.twitter.com/UW1XdOaL7A
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

Home captain Jordan Henderson was clearly up for the occasion, picking up a yellow card for a crunching early challenge:

"
"You can't get away with this with foreign referees" - Or indeed any referee that knows the rules.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) March 10, 2016"

"
Basic stupidity from Henderson.
— David Easson (@DavidEasson) March 10, 2016"

Team-mate Alberto Moreno wasn't quite so aggressive:

"
Alberto Moreno shirks a chance to nail Rashford by the touchline - Klopp lets him know exactly what he thinks.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

"
What can politely terms as "a rollocking" for Alberto Moreno from Jurgen Klopp for deciding not to tackle Marcus Rashford.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) March 10, 2016"

Liverpool took the lead after 20 minutes when Memphis Depay fouled Nathaniel Clyne just inside the penalty area and Daniel Sturridge converted the penalty:

"
Memphis on Clyne. Penalty. Sturridge confident conversion. 1-0 to #lfc. Memphis again a risk defensively.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 10, 2016"

"
How do you feel about Liverpool’s early lead, Jürgen Klopp? https://t.co/lGvnuU1h8b
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 10, 2016"

"
5 - Daniel Sturridge has scored five times and assisted another goal in his last seven games v Manchester United in all comps. Update.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 10, 2016"

The home side had all the momentum, with only David De Gea preventing a second goal:

"
David De Gea, though. ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/tghtU3NlrD
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 10, 2016"

"
Coutinho has a strict rule that he will only ever caress the ball into the net, and that was his undoing there. #LFCvMUFC
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 10, 2016"

And again:

"
Now De Gea saves well from Sturridge after Smalling misses a simple headed clearance in the area. Liverpool all over Man Utd here.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) March 10, 2016"

"
David De Gea . . . the difference between a great #LFC win and an inevitable 1-1 draw. ##LFCvMUFC pic.twitter.com/57Uk3UsAH4
— Unibet (@unibet) March 10, 2016"

And again:

"
Hat trick of great saves by Dave!!
— Rachel Riley (@RachelRileyRR) March 10, 2016"

"
Without De Gea, Man Utd would be absolutely screwed. And not just in this game
— Robert Rea (@robertrea) March 10, 2016"

"
De Gea to the rescue again - this time from Lallana. He has kept Man. Utd within some sort of distance here.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) March 10, 2016"

Meanwhile, the watching Joey Barton was seriously impressed by Reds defender Mamadou Sakho:

"
Mamadou Sakho is the most unorthodox, efficient, unbalanced, effective defender on the Planet.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) March 10, 2016"

"
Watching him is similar to viewing a clown spin plates. You are just waiting for them to smash on the floor. Yet, somehow he keeps it going.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) March 10, 2016"

"
Contradicts the laws of motion with every touch. The man is genius. A true one off... #sakho
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) March 10, 2016"

Liverpool's dominance continued in the second half, and they added a second on 72 minutes when Michael Carrick failed to clear Henderson's cross and Adam Lallana set up Roberto Firmino to score:

"
2-0 Liverpool. Firmino from Lallana's cut-back. Had been coming.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 10, 2016"

"
Love it!!! Liverpool 2 vs M.United 0. Not just the score. Reds dominating every aspect in the game, fantastic!!!
— Luis Garcia (@LuchoGarcia14) March 10, 2016"

"
Louis van Gaal watching Manchester United's defending on Roberto Firmino’s goal. #LFCvMUFC pic.twitter.com/fTCwbw3Oq4
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 10, 2016"

It was another harrowing night for the United faithful: