Louis van Gaal confirms dressing room shouting match led by Wayne Rooney inspired Man United win at Liverpool

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that a shouting match between his players at half-time at Anfield last weekend helped carry Manchester United to victory over arch rivals Liverpool.

Captain Wayne Rooney was at the centre of the frank exchange of views that could be heard in the Liverpool dressing-room. The striker then scored his fifth goal in four games to give United 1-0 win.

Van Gaal suggested that he was happy about the incident and it is all part of his attempts to give the players greater responsibility.

He said: ‘Not only Wayne Rooney is doing that, there are several players doing that and that is what I want.

‘The players are self responsible, not only the manager. That is also why I have made this approach to the players and so on because responsibility for the result and commitment is very important that your team is showing that.

‘The fact that Rooney is scoring and we have won our games, or at least we drew versus Newcastle away. There is a parallel. I have said that always, he is not always only important as a player but also as a captain. I’m very happy with him.’

United are unbeaten in five games after four straight defeats of Christmas cast doubt over Van Gaal’s future. The Dutchman knows the heat will be on again if his team do not continue to show progress at home to Southampton on Saturday, but insists that the players have not been affected by the speculation.