Man U thrash Liverpool 3-0 to increase pressure on Rodgers

Manchester United increased pressure on Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as they thrashed the tourists 3-0 at Old Trafford to record their sixth successive Premier League win to continue their resurgence under manager Louis van Gaal.

United capitalised on some poor defending from Liverpool to run out comfortable victors at Old Trafford. A succession of brilliant saves from United goalkeeper David De Gea and a controversial second goal from Juan Mata were significant factors in Liverpool's loss.

United captain Wayne Rooney provided the hosts an early lead just 12 minutes into the game and Liverpool had every right to feel aggrieved when Mata headed in from a clearly offside position to take the game away from them just before half-time, The BBC reported.

However, even before United took the lead, De Gea made an important save from Raheem Sterling, denying the England youngster on four occasions as well as producing three vital contributions to stop Liverpool substitute Mario Balotelli getting his first Premier League goal for the club.

Robin van Persie's third for United at the end of a lightning counter-attack only added to Liverpool's pain and gave the scoreline a lopsided look given the amount of work done by De Gea.

United's sixth successive league win continued United's resurgence under Van Gaal and put Liverpool's decline since they came so close to winning the Premier League into even sharper relief. Rodgers' side now trails third-placed United by 10 points.

Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, intend to give Rodgers until the end of the season at least to turn matters around given the credit that he still has after last season, but after a miserable Champions League campaign was confirmed by their exit at the group stage following the midweek draw with Basel, these are crucial days for the northern Irishman.

Rodgers now faces a huge seven days with a Capital One Cup quarterfinal at Championship leaders Bournemouth on Wednesday before Arsenal visit Anfield next weekend, the report added.