It's not often that Manchester United and Liverpool face off outside of the Premier League, but it happened Monday in Miami. It marked the first time the two teams had met outside their homeland.
The two powerhouse teams met in front of over 50,000 fans in Sun Life Stadium in the final match of the Guinness International Champions Cup. In the end, it was the Reds from Manchester United on top 3-1, and it marked the first time since 2008 that Man U defeated Liverpool by 2 or more goals.
It obviously meant a lot to both sides, evidenced by Manchester United Captain Wayne Rooney's fist pump as he scored in the 55th minute. His excitement was increased when teammate Juan Mata fired one in 3 minutes later.
Rooney's goal tied the game, and Mata's, on an assist by Luke Shaw, put the Reds ahead.
The scoring began when Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling was tackled deep in box near the back line by United defender Phil Jones. The foul called for a penalty kick, and Midfielder Steven Gerrard coolly converted the attempt despite Man U keeper David De Gea's best efforts in the 14th minute.
Jessie Lingard finished the second half comeback for United, putting away their final goal in the 89th minute on an assist from Shinji Kagawa.
Liverpool was truly defeated at this point, and it was clear that the Manchester United team was happy to be hoisting the tournament trophy.
No matter the lose, though, Liverpool was happy to have come to the US and played. The team has American ownership, and Like Manchester United, they are very interested in expanding interest in the game across the Atlantic and around the world.
"It has worked out and it's been good," Billy Hogan, Liverpool's Chief Commercial Officer told the Miami Sun Sentinel after the match. "The excitement around the World Cup is noticeable. There is real momentum around this country. We have over 20 million fans in the United States, so this is a great opportunity for us."
With a large marketing base already set in the United States, Hogan said it made a lot of sense to come to this country.
