Manchester United’s stunning 4-3 comeback victory over Liverpool in extra time in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday kept their trophy dreams alive and manager Erik ten Hag hopes it will also be the catalyst to turn around their Premier League fortunes.

Amad Diallo practically blew the roof off Old Trafford when he netted the winner in the 121st minute after Marcus Rashford equalised eight minutes earlier and the 12-time FA Cup winners booked a semi-final spot against second-tier Coventry City.

“This could be that (pivotal) moment where the team can really believe, and the energy too, that they can do amazing things,” delighted Dutchman Ten Hag said.

“And I think when you can beat Liverpool in the way we did, that you can beat any opponent, so it’s up to us to prove the point. I said this also on Friday (in the pre-game news conference) — and today (Sunday) we did.”

United are sixth in the standings, a massive 17 points behind Liverpool in second but, more importantly, they are nine points off fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot for next season, albeit with a game in hand.

Former United captain Roy Keane suggested Sunday’s thriller could galvanise the team, particularly the youngsters.

“A lot of players have never had Old Trafford bouncing like that. The feel-good factor for these players can be massive for the rest of the season,” Keane said on ITV.

United has indeed been a dreary place on many nights this season, but Sunday’s battle will go down as a classic.

“When it’s Manchester Untied against Liverpool, it’s one of the world’s best football matches. It is historical,” Ten Hag said. “I thought the first 35 minutes were the best I have seen from my team this season.”

“Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it is, a huge occasion,” Rashford told ITV. “I haven’t had the season I wanted but nights like this at Old Trafford are what it’s all about.

“We have to get something out of this season... it’s a massive game in the history of Manchester United.”

Scott McTominay gave United a 10th-minute lead but Liverpool turned the game on its head with goals three minutes apart from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah before half-time.

Liverpool dominated the second half and should have put the game to bed, but United poured on the pressure late in normal time and Antony spun in the box before slotting home past two Liverpool players in the 87th minute — the Brazilian’s first goal at Old Trafford in over a year — to force extra time.

Harvey Elliott brought the 9,000 travelling Liverpool fans to their feet in the 105th minute when his long-range rocket deflected off Christian Eriksen’s foot and between Harry Maguire’s legs into the bottom corner.

But once again United kept their foot on the gas.

“Super intense,” Klopp said. “We used the time and adapted well. We were outstanding but we had to finish the game off and we didn’t.”

Rashford made it 3-3, calmly slotting a picture-perfect pass from McTominay into the bottom corner before running to United’s fans, where he was mobbed.

“Rashford is resilient, he keeps going, normally he finishes those moments but he kept going for another chance. That inspired the other players,” Ten Hag said.

Then Alejandro Garnacho and Diallo charged up the field on a breakaway after a Liverpool corner with Diallo firing home the winner in the 120th minute to a deafening roar from the Old Trafford faithful, leaving Klopp looking stunned on the sideline.

“We deserved this win, we played very good, it was one of the best games of the season. It’s the best goal of my life it’s a really important moment,” Diallo said.

“You need to believe in every single moment, this is football.”
Diallo was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his celebrations.

“We always have belief, the problem is we have not been consistent with our performances,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told ITV.