Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal claims his team contributed to Liverpool's weekend loss

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal thinks his side are due some credit for Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday (20 March). The 64-year-old Dutchman has claimed the Merseysiders expended so much energy to win their Europa League tie, they simply ran out of steam against the Saints.

Jurgen Klopp's side led 2-0 against Ronald Koeman's men, only to cede control of the match and eventually lose by a one-goal margin. The dramatic result came after Liverpool only had two days off after their Europa League win against United before they were back in action in the Premier League.

"We have seen the result from Southampton today. Liverpool were 2-0 up at half-time and at full-time it was 3-2 to Southampton," the United boss said after his side won the Manchester derby, according to The Independent. "I have not seen the match but I can only conclude it was because of tiredness and that is what we have done to them."

United, by contrast, produced one of their better performances of the league season to defeat their cross-city rivals. Van Gaal claimed their 1-0 win was made all the more impressive because of their heavy workload.

"I thought we played fantastic in the first half and the second half was a test of survival because we were very tired," the United manager said. "We had only two days to recover after the Liverpool game and that is almost not possible.

"It was fantastic. We have also done it with Arsenal after that we played a Thursday and we beat them. We've also beaten Manchester City so I am very happy because it is not easy to win here. I have not seen the match but I can only conclude it was because of tiredness and that is what we have done to them."