According to Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, Sunday's 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield has vaulted United back into the title race. Although it was far from a vintage performance from the traveling side, Wayne Rooney's 78th-minute strike was enough to give them a fourth straight victory over their fiercest rival.
For much of the match, United were penned back, and relied on goalkeeper David De Gea to keep them in the match. He made terrific saves in both halves to keep things scoreless, and once again showed just how vital he is to this team.
Besides De Gea, how did the rest of the team fare?
Manchester United player ratings (1-10, 10=best, player must have played at least 15 minutes to receive a rating)
GK David De Gea - 9
As he has done so often over the last season and a half, De Gea picked up the man of the match award for a sterling performance. He was fast off his line to deny Adam Lallana just over 10 minutes into the match after the midfielder had latched onto a through ball. In addition to the standout save of the first period, the goalkeeper distributed the ball accurately throughout, always looking to launch quick counter attacks. He twice denied Emre Can in the second period, with the second denial acting as the first half of a thrilling double save which was completed when he did his best Dikembe Mutumbo impression while swatting away a strike from Roberto Firmino.
RB Ashley Young - 6
Young was forced off just before the interval after sustaining an injury, but up till that point put in a decent shift. He didn't have the same attacking impact he did against Swansea a couple of weeks ago, but was smart and disciplined in defence.
CB Chris Smalling - 6
This wasn't the England international's best performance of the season, but it was also far from his worst. His distribution out of the back wasn't the best, but was still an integral part of a defence which kept a clean sheet at Anfield, one of the most difficult tasks in the league.
CB Daley Blind - 6
Much like Smalling, his distribution has seen better days, but he tracked runs tirelessly from Liverpool's mobile front three. Occasionally was caught too far up the pitch, but also must share some of the credit for the clean sheet.
LB Matteo Darmian - 7
Darmian's utility has been vital at various stages of the season, and it came in handy again on Saturday. After Young was forced off, he moved over to right back so that Cameron Borthwick-Jackson could enter the fray. Darmian's performance was a strong, professional one. Joined in well with the attack on occasion, but never created anything of substance.
CM Morgan Schneiderlin - 7
Schneiderlin is quickly earning himself a reputation as a consummate professional. This was not his strongest performance of the season, but he did well to win the ball back and to circulate possession. There were points, especially in the first half, when Liverpool dominated the midfield, but Schneiderlin was a key reason why United were much stronger in the second period.
CM Marouane Fellaini - 6
Passing is not Fellaini's strength. He had an extremely poor beginning to the match but grew into the game. The Belgian did as much as anyone else to win the ball back and was vital in fashioning the winner. He can consider himself unlucky not to have scored the winner, as it was his header which crashed back off the crossbar before being rifled home by Rooney.
CM Ander Herrera - 7
Much like Schneiderlin, Herrera showed a marked improvement after the interval. He was quite poor in the first half, but his industry was on display in the second period. This was far from a vintage performance from the Spaniard, but he was a crucial part of United's far better second half.
FW Jesse Lingard - 5
The common thread amongst United's starting XI on Sunday was that none (bar De Gea) put in their strongest performances, and Lingard was no exception. He worked hard both on and off the ball, but failed to make any meaningful impact on the match.
FW Anthony Martial - 7
Stationed out on the left wing once again, Martial caused the Liverpool defence all sorts of problems in the second half. The visiting side struggled to get him into the game during the first half, but he came to life in the final 45. He struck fear into the Anfield faithful with a couple of stunning runs in the second half and nearly opened the scoring early in the second period after a great turn in the box.
FW Wayne Rooney - 8
Like Martial, he was practically anonymous in the first period, but came to life later on. Pressed doggedly in efforts to win the ball back high up the pitch, and earned his reward with a wonderfully taken strike. It wasn't the prettiest goal he'll ever score, but his finish was technically perfect as he scored what might be the most important goal of United's season thus far. With five goals in his last four matches, three of which were gamewinners, we can now say that the captain is finally back in form. If he keeps scoring at this rate, could he break Sir Bobby Charlton's club scoring record by May? Only time will tell.
Substitutes
LB Cameron Borthwick-Jackson - 7
Life is moving pretty quickly for the youngster. At the start of the season, the teenager was playing for United's U-21 and U-19 sides. Now, he has played for United's senior team in the UEFA Champions League and in the biggest club match of the season in England. He joined well in the attack and provided a couple of dangerous crosses while defending smartly. He shows a calmness beyond his years.
FW Juan Mata - 7
He didn't quite have the impact he had last year at Anfield, when his brace proved the difference between the two sides and his second goal won United's Goal of the Season award. However, it was his cross that Fellaini directed onto the bar before Rooney fired home. The former Chelsea attacker is a man for the big occasion, as he proved again on Sunday.
FW Memphis Depay - 6
The Dutchman's performances have grown steadily more impressive as the season has gone along. While not yet the player the Old Trafford faithful were hoping for, his confidence seems to be growing. He went on a couple of twinkle-toed runs down the left wing, but couldn't decide whether to search for a second goal or to run time off the clock. It would be intriguing to see what he could accomplish with a full 90 minutes, now that his confidence seems to be slowly growing.