Wayne Rooney and his Manchester United team-mates were celebrating on Sunday night after they beat Liverpool to move five points clear of their rivals in the race for Champions League football . Juan Mata scored both goals , and captain Rooney took to Twitter to congratulate his team-mate on his 'great goals ' . The England skipper also admitted that he should have let Mata take United 's penalty , which would have secured his hat-trick on an impressive afternoon at Anfield . Wayne Rooney ( left ) took to Twitter after Manchester United beat Liverpool to congratulate Juan Mata ( right ) The Manchester United team celebrate after they secured their win over bitter rivals Liverpool . 'Very happy tonight , ' Rooney said on Twitter . 'Fans were amazing . @ juanmata8 great goals . Should of [ sic ] let him take penalty . And the United fan in the kop . Brilliant . ' The 29-year-old 's comment about a United fan in the Kop refers to pictures appearing to show a rogue away supporter spotted holding a Manchester United scarf aloft among Liverpool 's most staunch fans . An image appearing to show the man sticking his tongue out during the home fans ' rendition of 'You 'll Never Walk Alone ' circulated widely on Twitter . However , it later emerged that Rooney , like many others , was actually the victim of a Photoshop hoax . A Manchester United fan photoshopped into the Kop at Anfield ; Rooney even tweeted about him after the game . Mata scored twice , a goal in each half of the match , to ensure Manchester United left Anfield with three points . Rooney missed a penalty , and admitted he should have let Mata take it to secure his hat-trick . During the game , Rooney 's decision to step up and take the penalty himself proved to be the wrong one as he saw his effort saved by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet . Mata had already grabbed a brace and a third goal would have completed a magical afternoon for the Spaniard , whose goals eventually proved enough to secure the win . After a goal in each half for the away side , Liverpool halved the deficit when Daniel Sturridge pegged a goal back . United managed to hold on for the win though , leaving Rooney and his colleagues celebrating their position three points closer to next season 's Champions League .
Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 to move five points clear in 4th place . The Reds have a game in hand on the leaders and are four ahead of Arsenal with two games left - but they face Stoke City at home next weekend before hosting West Ham United.