Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal says his team remains in the English Premier title race, after Wayne Rooney's second-half goal saw off Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Rooney has now scored five goals in his last four games, with United now seven points off Arsenal, which occupies top spot in the table.
And Van Gaal, whose job was under pressure before Christmas, believes United now has a realistic shot at winning the title.
"To beat Liverpool is always important," Van Gaal said. "Today it was important because our competitors lost points and when the gap [at the top] is like this we can overturn that. That is what I'm thinking.
"We have a lot of matches to go. We started 2015 very good, with a lot of wins and draws—we didn't lose."
Van Gaal praised Rooney, who reacted quickest to turn the ball home after Marouane Fellaini's header hit the Liverpool crossbar.
"A striker who scores is always very important and now he is scoring in a row and we are winning," he said.
"I'm very happy for him but also for Manchester United. Everyone wants to see Rooney scoring."
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