By Daily Sports on January 18, 2016

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised the character of his side as they drew 0-0 in “an old-fashioned Stoke battle” on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners moved back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table on goal difference as they extended their unbeaten run to four league matches with a hard-fought point at the Britannia Stadium.

“It was an old-fashioned Stoke battle because they made the game very physical,” Wenger said. “The crowd was up for it, the players were up for it and they went for a very direct game and we had to show a physical response, solidarity, fighting spirit, togetherness.

“They were really up for it, they tried from the first to the last minute and looking at the history we have here, it is a positive result.”

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney continued his return to form at Anfield, striking 12 minutes from time to earn Manchester United a 1-0 win against their arch rivals Liverpool.

Though the visitors were indebted to their goalkeeper, David De Gea, for a string of fine saves, it was Rooney who decided the contest when he reacted quickest to the rebound after Marouane Fellaini’s header had rattled the crossbar, ensuring United sealed a fourth consecutive victory over the Merseyside outfit.

Liverpool, still looking for consistency under Klopp, had the better of the first-half chances but were made to rue missed opportunities by Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson.

Louis van Gaal’s men showed little sign of the renewed attacking vigour on show during Tuesday’s 3-3 draw at Newcastle United, but when Fellaini climbed highest to head a Juan Mata cross against Simon Mignolet’s crossbar, Rooney reacted first to hammer in the winner and maintain his goalscoring streak.

After a slow start to the season by his standards, Rooney has now scored five goals in his last four outings, leaving Klopp and his Liverpool side to lament their lack of killer instinct.

While United were unchanged from Tuesday’s draw on Tyneside, Liverpool brought in Lucas Leiva for Jordon Ibe following their 3-3 draw against Arsenal.

And, amid a frenetic start, the Brazilian’s clever pass allowed Lallana a header on target before Roberto Firmino sent the rebound wide following a smart stop from De Gea.

•Photo courtesy of premierleague.com shows Rooney hammering in the decider against Liverpool . . . yesterday evening at Anfield.

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 18, 2016

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