Louis van Gaal sets sights on title after Manchester United's late Liverpool win
Monday 18 January 2016 10:36, UK
Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United can win the Premier League after their late victory over Liverpool reignited an unlikely title push.
Wayne Rooney's 78th-minute strike - his first at Anfield since 2005 - sealed a United victory and moved the club seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Van Gaal set his sights on finishing the season top of the pile, dismissing the current gap between his side and those at the top.
"To beat Liverpool is always important," the Dutchman said. "Today it was important because our competitors lost points and when the gap [at the top] is like this we can overturn that. That is what I'm thinking."
Pressed on whether he thought his side remained in the title race, Van Gaal said: "We have a lot of matches to go. We started 2015 very good, with a lot of wins and draws - we didn't lose.
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"This game will give a huge boost to the players, the fans and to everyone connected with Manchester United - and we have to continue, of course.
"That will not be easy, as we saw today, but we can do it because we showed every week that we can do it."
Sunday's result saw Van Gaal extend his flawless record against Liverpool to four wins from his four meetings with the Merseysiders.
However, if anyone was going to win the game it looked as it would have been Liverpool, with the hosts outplaying an insipid United attack throughout large parts.
And Van Gaal was forced to admit his side rode their luck at times, although he was pleased to win where others this season have failed.
"I have to admit we survived the first half because Liverpool were more aggressive," Van Gaal added.
"We didn't keep the ball in the first half so we couldn't create anything and they created three chances in the first half - that was surviving.
"In the second half, we came into the match, and you could see that. We create two chances and scored one of them. We were lucky the ball hit the crossbar and dropped to Wayne too.
"But we didn't give so much away in the second half, so I am a happy coach.
"We beat Liverpool where other competitors at this level have lost."
