Rooney strikes to earn Man Utd bragging rights over Liverpool

Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1.

A goal from Manchester United's Wayne Rooney 12 minutes from time was enough to see off the challenge of Liverpool as the Premier League's biggest grudge match turned out to be a drab affair that was desperately short on quality.

Not that United fans will care as they celebrate a win over their arch rivals and three vital points that move their team into fifth, just two points behind Tottenham.

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Rooney's strike - United's first shot on target - came after Marouane Fellaini's header rebounded off the crossbar and the England captain has now scored in four successive games for his club for the first time since March 2012.

The goal, his 176th for United, also means Rooney overtakes former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for the most goals for a single club in Premier League history, although it was clear he was unaware of the milestone in the post-match interviews.

"This is a special feeling," was how Rooney described his goal. "It is always great to score at your rivals and, against Liverpool for this football club, it is a massive result. On a personal note it doesn't get much better."

Acknowledging that it was hardly a vintage United display, Rooney nonetheless said: "Today the performance wasn't that important - the result was all that mattered."

Liverpool will be bitterly disappointed with the outcome, a defeat that leaves in ninth spot, six points behind United and with the prospect of Champions League football next season receding.

They had the better chances but United keeper David de Gea denied Adam Lallana and Emre Can with sharp saves. "I didn't see too many chances for Manchester United and we didn't take ours," reflected Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. "Of course it is frustrating. We lost a game that we should not have lost... so I can't be very positive at this moment so soon after the game."

For Louis van Gaal, the victory will ease, for the moment, some of the pressure that had been building after a poor run of results, and the Dutchman couldn't hide his relief. "I’m happy, the players are happy and the fans more happy," he declared.

Having singled out Rooney for praise, Van Gaal added: "Now we have made a good start in 2016, to beat Liverpool for the second time in a row is it marvellous, it gives a big boost for the players and the fans so I hope it shall continue with winning. That is why we are here, to win our games and at end of the season to be in the first three positions of the league."