Manchester United were much improved at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as they earned a 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
United came into the game on the back of a four-game losing streak and closer to the relegation zone than the European places, but they were brilliant here and more than good value for their point.
Liverpool He struggled during the competition and will no doubt feel like this was a missed opportunity after Arsenal drew at Brighton on Saturday, but their lead at the top is still a healthy six points after having played a game less than their rivals
How the game developed
The filthy conditions at Anfield shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise given that postponement was considered sunday morning An almighty rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ warmed Scouse spirits on a miserable Merseyside afternoon, but a competent display from United in the opening 45 minutes initially caused a sense of pathetic fallacy among the home crowd .
The subjects that were so different against Newcastle they eased up with Ruben Amorim opting for a youthful and dynamic midfield pivot, and while the proactivity of United’s centre-backs presented alternate problems, their aggression was certainly a net positive throughout.
Liverpool were made to work against a stubborn team united block that only gave the space between the lines on occasion. Clever interplay was required for penetration, and the Reds came close to making the breakthrough through Cody Gakpo.
The Dutchman’s chance came amid a flurry of shots from the home side, but United didn’t let Liverpool build momentum in the first half, and it was the visitors who wouldn’t have wanted it to come the halftime whistle.
Their combination play was efficient, allowing them to escape Liverpool’s usual counter-press, and they had plenty of joy when they targeted the Reds’ right wing. After Amad Diallo missed a header to give United the lead, Alisson expertly denied Rasmus Hojlund one-on-one.
Arne Slot has been no stranger to lifting his side at half-time, and a rebound was needed from the visitors against their great historical rivals. Their task was complicated just minutes after the restart when Lisandro MartÃnez crashed home a deserved first goal for Amorim’s side, their first at Anfield for more than six years.
It then looked like United would build on their opener, but Liverpool’s first effort after falling behind resulted in an equaliser. Cody Gakpo is a man in form, and his finish has been that of a striker with the utmost confidence in front of goal. Matthijs de Ligt was responsible for leaving Gakpo the space to shoot after diving, and the Dutch defender was once again the defensive star as Liverpool took the lead.
De Ligt was booked for handling in the box after VAR intervened, and Mohamed Salah was on hand to put the Red Devils back in the hunt when he scored from the spot.
Some might have expected the Reds to finally take control and run away with the contest, but United refused to go away and quickly re-established a foothold before leveling the scores through Amad Diallo. Amorim’s side got in behind Liverpool down the right again and Amad was on hand to convert Alejandro Garnacho’s first-time cross.
The tie set up an absolutely thrilling conclusion with both teams spurning chances to win a game of Premier League football. After Virgil van Dijk headed straight at Andre Onana, United broke through last but Joshua Zirkzee’s cross fell to the feet of Harry Maguire, who predictably fired over.
Check out Liverpool vs Man Utd player ratings here.
Trent Alexander-Arnold hopes Florentino Perez will enjoy a nap on Sunday. Much has been said about the right-back’s move to Real Madrid for free transfer this summer, but the Englishman was more Jonathan Woodgate than David Beckham against the Red Devils.
By the end of the first half, almost 60% of United’s attacks were centered on Liverpool’s right.
Alexander-Arnold’s indifference turned to indifference at times, with Diogo Dalot constantly getting in behind the Englishman. The right-back has, for the most part, defended well this term amid an excellent campaign, but this performance was a return to the old stereotype. His work with the ball was also lacking.
He was perhaps not helped by a rusty Ibrahima Konate, who struggled to defend the channel with his usual vigor on his return to the team. However, an apparent player Real Madrid caliber must take hold on their flank but United fell apart when Alexander-Arnold was on target.
Booked and stuck to end a miserable afternoon.
OK, United didn’t have one full week off, but this was their longest gap between games since Amorim took over.
The Red Devils certainly benefited. Their plans were clear in and out of possession, with Newcastle’s improvement from Monday night clear. Amorim identified his centre-backs’ hesitancy when jumping into midfield as a key theme last time out, with all three making a concerted effort to keep Liverpool out between the lines here. Problems only arose when the Reds’ crafty trio came off the shoulder of United’s pivot.
Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo were mostly disciplined as they offered composure in possession, but their positional discipline was constantly tested and there were a couple of lapses. That’s to be expected against a big opponent who is so good at picking apart defensive structures. Bruno Fernandes came on expertly after Mainoo’s withdrawal, and the United skipper was arguably the best player on the pitch in the second half.
It wasn’t perfect, but Amorim, who described his players as “too scared” to perform in the build-up to Sunday’s game, will be very pleased with their work on the training ground. His team was more than just competent at Anfield. They could have easily walked away with the three points.
Liverpool certainly didn’t have it all their own way against an improved Red Devils, but one man who always seemed to be in control was Mac Allister.
The Argentine’s role under Slot is more fluid than under Jurgen Klopp, with the German calling on Mac Allister to mitigate Liverpool’s midfield woes during their swansong campaign. The emergence of Ryan Gravenberch has given Mac Allister greater freedom, with the former Brighton man taking on an all-round role.
Not only is he tasked with supporting Gravenberch in the build-up, but he has been asked to run on the shoulders of opposing midfielders and provide a point of reference between the lines. We saw the best of his space play here, with Mac Allister testing Andre Onana after meeting Salah’s ability from behind.
The midfielder’s subtle but masterful work on the ball was matched by his dullness without it, and while his team-mates struggled to match their imperious levels at home, Mac Allister refused to get bogged down. He also had a hand in both goals.
