MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN has revealed a blazing half-time dressing-room row sparked Manchester United's vital win at Anfield.
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| Morgan Schneiderlin reveals a half-time row helped Manchester United beat Liverpool |
The France midfielder said there was a lot of "screaming and shouting" among the players following a tame first-half performance when they were out-fought by Liverpool.
Manager Louis van Gaal, his assistant Ryan Giggs and skipper Wayne Rooney are understood to have led the way by accusing the players of being second best in the physical skirmishes.
And Schneiderlin said the angry, finger-pointing ruck sparked a big improvement in the second half when Rooney's late winner reignited United's title ambitions.
"When we came into the dressing room after the first half, there was some screaming and shouting but of course that is normal because in a derby you cannot lose the battle," said Schneiderlin.
"In the first half we didn't win enough second balls. Sometimes we won the first ball but not the second.
"Liverpool are a very high-pressing team and we knew if we kept a clean sheet we would have a chance to win the game.
"In the second half we did what we had to do. We stayed strong, scored a goal and, at the end, we were very happy to finish with the win. It was the most important thing to give to our fans and the football club. Hopefully now we can carry on."
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho said the home team could hear the row from their dressing room. "United were lucky and they know it," he said. "We could hear them shouting in the dressing room at half-time. We ate them."
Rooney admitted he and Van Gaal were forced to read the riot act and spell out a few home truths at the break after Liverpool had dominated.
He said: "We knew how important it was and there were a few reminders [at half-time] from myself and the manager that this is Liverpool we are playing, we need to tackle more and get to the ball quicker.
"We did that in the second half. Liverpool made it tough for us in the first half but we got the chance and we were happy with the win. The performance wasn't that important; all that mattered was the victory."
Rooney's goal was his fifth in four games in 2016 and Schneiderlin says United need him to continue his hot streak if they are to back up Van Gaal's belief they can still be title contenders.
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| Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring with team-mate Schneiderlin at Anfield |
"Wayne is still the main figure at the club," he said. "He's the one guy who has scored so many goals in his career and he will keep doing it. Sometimes you have spells where you don't score but he has kept the smile on his face and trained hard.
"You saw his two goals against Newcastle were very good and at Anfield he scored another amazing goal. We need him in the second half of the season if we are to achieve something special."
Defender Chris Smalling believes being left out of the starting line-up at Stoke on Boxing Day was the best thing that could have happened to Rooney because since being recalled he has not looked back.
"It was a busy Christmas period but since Wazza has missed that game and come back in he has shown he is a top-class performer," he said. "It can refresh you and spur you on a bit more to prove to everyone just how good you are and make sure people don't forget that.
"Strikers go through periods where they don't score but the best ones are the ones that come back and get on another run and Wazza has done that throughout his career. It's good to see he is back among the goals."
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