Most soccer fans expected Manchester United to experience some bumps and bruises throughout the 2013-2014 soccer season since the club was going through a transitional period. Welcoming in head coach David Moyes - the former head coach at Everton -- after Sir Alex Ferguson stepped away following 26 years of success, the Red Devils still possessed a high level of talent one year removed from another Barclays Premier League title, but the club would understabdably feel different. Dropping the recent Manchester Derby to rival Manchester City 4-1, folks across the international spectrum wondered how the Premier League giants would bounce back from an embarrassing loss.
Welcoming in Premier League rival Liverpool for a third round tilt in the Capital One Cup, fans at Old Trafford hoped to see a reinvigorated squad capable of scoring goals and shutting down the opposing offense. Playing to a scoreless first half against a Liverpool team who once again had the services of star scorer Luis Suarez for the first time in 10 matches, Man U held their own on the defensive side of the ball, pitching a shutout in the opening 45-plus. Suarez was looked upon as a player who'd be able to give Liverpool a boost but thanks to strong Manchester defense, Suarez -- who was previously suspended for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic -- wasn't able to register anything on the scoreboard, leaving both teams hungry for an early second half start.
The home team was the first to answer once play resumed. Recording the crucial first goal, Man U fan favorite and Mexican national star Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez sent one past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet at the 46-minute mark, sending the Old Trafford faithful into a craze.
David De Gea was rock solid in net for Man U, stopping each of the 3 shots that came on target and while he was steady, a big chunk of credit goes to the entire defense of Manchester for the simple fact that even though The Reds fired off 13 shots in the first 86 minutes of action, only three slipped by to De Gea, making his life significantly easier.
Earning the hard-fought 1-0 victory, Manchester United will now prepare to face West Bromwich Albion at home on September 28 in Premier League action while Liverpool prepares for a September 29 trip to Sunderland.
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