Cristiano Ronaldo made the difference: Ralf Rangnick

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Norwich City at Old Trafford on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images

Manchester United's interim manager Ralf Rangnick has heaped praise on star striker Cristiano Ronaldo after his brilliant hat-trick against Norwich City on Saturday saw the Red Devils emerge 3-2 winners at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo's 60th career hat-trick took him to 20 goals in all competitions this season. It is an indictment of the contributions of his teammates that the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar has 12 more goals than any of them. It is the 16th season in a row that Ronaldo has scored 20 or more club goals in all competitions and moved him on to 99 career Premier League goals.

Important goals

"Ronaldo has scored three very important goals for us," Rangnick said after the close win. "Quite like against Tottenham [where Ronaldo had netted a hat-trick in March], he was very crucial today. The second and third goals are not easy goals. The way that he took those, the second and the third, was just outstanding. He has showed against Tottenham and today that he can be the difference-maker in games like this. It is no coincidence that he has the best goal-scoring record of all players in history," added Rangnick, after United's chances of securing Champions League football next season got a huge boost by defeats for rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Ralf Rangnick

United trail Spurs - who occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot - by three points and have the same number of points as Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand. Rangnick however, was critical of his team's defence and felt that United will be fortunate to even get a point against in-form Liverpool on Tuesday if they show the same defensive frailties they did against struggling Norwich.

A vibrant Liverpool reached the FA Cup final on Saturday with a 3-2 win over league title rivals Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp's side remain on course for four trophies - they have secured one already the League Cup - s they are a point adrift of City in the table and in the Champions League semi-finals. Rangnick criticised his defence for the two goals they conceded to bottom side Norwich.

Difficult tie

"Everybody has seen today's game and everybody knows what kind of team we are playing on Tuesday. They [Liverpool] have just beaten Man City, they are in the Cup final and might have a chance to win four trophies this season. If we play like we did today, it will be very difficult to even get a point. This is what we have to be realistic and aware of. We have to be a lot better when the opposition is in possession," Rangnick concluded.

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