Wayne Rooney: I should have let Juan Mata take penalty against Liverpool

WAYNE ROONEY admits he should have given man-of-the-moment Juan Mata the chance to bag a hat-trick during Manchester United's win over Liverpool.

03:46, Mon, Mar 23, 2015 | UPDATED: 18:45, Mon, Mar 23, 2015

Wayne Rooney GETTY

Wayne Rooney celebrates Juan Mata's goal at Anfield

Mata struck twice as United boosted their top-four hopes with a 2-1 victory on Merseyside today.

Louis van Gaal's side are now five points clear of Liverpool in fifth, but Rooney missed a chance to end his decade-long Anfield drought with a failed late penalty.

But the England striker saw the funny side, taking to Twitter to praise Mata.

"Very happy tonight. Fans were amazing. @juanmata8 great goals. Should of let him take penalty. And the United fan in the Kop. Brilliant," he posted.

Very happy tonight. Fans were amazing. @juanmata8 great goals. Should of let him take penalty. And the United fan in the kop. Brilliant
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) March 22, 2015

Mata was similarly pleased with the result and reckoned it was his best game for United since joining for £37million from Chelsea in January last year.

"I think it's my best game in a United shirt, yes," he said.

"It's a massive game, probably the biggest in English football, so to score two goals is great for me.

"It was important for me. The last few months I've not had the best moment. It is the manager who decides but I'm happy today."