Amad Diallo conjured up a late leveller as a spirited Manchester United side held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield in Sunday's Premier League main event.
Defying the pre-game forecast, Ruben Amorim's Red Devils - reinforced by the recalls of captain Bruno Fernandes and the impressive midfield pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte - kept their hosts at arm's length in the first 45.
Man United even made some inroads of their own in front of the Kop, but both they and Arne Slot's side were bereft of a clinical final touch, as Rasmus Hojlund and Alexis Mac Allister both spurned promising chances inside the box.
However, an unlikely source in Lisandro Martinez did not let such an opportunity pass him by - crashing home a ferocious opener early in the second half - but the Argentine had just poked the Liverpool bear as Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah turned the tide for the league leaders.
There would be one final twist to the Merseyside tale, though, as big-game player Diallo stole a point for the visitors with 10 minutes of normal time remaining - nothing less than they deserved in atrocious conditions.
Liverpool's point at least re-increases their lead over Arsenal at the top of the rankings to six with a game in hand, while Amorim's men climb up one place to 13th and are five points off the top half.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
As far as Man United performances under Amorim go, this was one of their best by far. As far as Liverpool performances under Slot go, this was undoubtedly one of their worst.
Few expected the Red Devils to put up any sort of fight whatsoever following their pitiful performances against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Amorim's men well and truly turned up the heat at the home of their Northern nemesis.
The Portuguese's much-changed midfield put in a brilliant shift, and it could have become all the more sweeter for the visitors right at the death, as the final attack of the game ended with Harry Maguire blazing over from eight yards with most of the goal at his mercy.
A point gained for Man United translates to two lost for the league leaders, who barring that brief resurgence in the second half were a shadow of their usual selves; their defensive line was exposed and their attacking play was blunt far too often.
One of the biggest pre-game sub-plots was Real Madrid firming up their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who responded with one of his poorest performances of the season so far; his defending has come on leaps and bounds this season, but he was constantly out of position today as Man United focused their attacks down his flank.
Liverpool's lead at the top remains insurmountable, but this was an unusually disjointed Reds display that may just have their rivals believing again.
LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UNITED HIGHLIGHTS
Lisandro Martinez goal vs. Liverpool (52nd min, Liverpool 0-1 Man United)
Lisandro Martínez unleashes a thunderbolt strike beyond Alisson! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/z3vmqkbIol
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Slot's script is in the shredder! Man United's performance has merited a goal all day, and an unlikely source absolutely blasts the opening goal past a helpless Alisson Becker.
It all comes from Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass being cut out by Martinez, who links up with Fernandes on the right and cleverly gets in behind both Alexander-Arnold and Ryan Gravenberch.
The Argentine bears down on goal and rifles in a thunderous strike in off the bar from a tight angle to trigger Mancunian mayhem in the away end!
Cody Gakpo goal vs. Man United (59th min, Liverpool 1-1 Man United)
Cody Gakpo hits a sensational solo strike against Onana! 😨 pic.twitter.com/ggR8CJLNMk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Write the leaders off at your peril! Ugarte can only half-clear to Gravenberch, who quickly lays the ball off to Mac Allister, and the Argentine slips in an inch-perfect through ball to Gakpo down the left-hand side of the box.
The Dutchman cuts inside - sending compatriot Matthijs de Ligt for a hot dog - before finding the far top corner with an emphatic strike. Man United want offside, but one VAR check later, they do not have it.
Mohamed Salah penalty goal vs. Man United (70th min, Liverpool 2-1 Man United)
The Egyptian king scores for Liverpool! 👑 pic.twitter.com/cYPl8H75PN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Salah from the penalty spot. Only one result, and Liverpool's comeback is complete.
The Reds are up in arms after De Ligt's arm is up and blocks Mac Allister's header - referee Michael Oliver initially waves away the appeals, but following a check of the pitchside monitor, the hosts have their penalty.
Onana guesses correctly down to his bottom right, but Salah's powerful effort seeps through his gloves, and the Egyptian soaks it all in in front of the Kop after scoring his 175th Premier League goal - the same number that Thierry Henry managed.
Amad Diallo goal vs. Man United (80th min, Liverpool 2-2 Man United)
Amad sweeps home from Garnacho's low cross 😮
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
What a GAME this is at Anfield! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LWRlKvyAE5
The first half may not have lived up to the billing, but the second 45 was never going to be as forgettable was it?
Man United find themselves on level terms out of nowhere, as Alejandro Garnacho's low cross evades Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, allowing Diallo to arrive on the scene and sweep a low finish past Alisson and the desperate lunge of Andy Robertson.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LISANDRO MARTINEZ
© Imago
A word for the effervescent Mac Allister and Fernandes in the middle of the park, but the man who scored Man United's first league goal at Anfield since 2018 takes our man of the match accolade.
Any centre-forward would have been proud to produce the arrowed finish that Martinez did, and the Argentine also put in four clearances, three tackles - including one last-man tackle - and three interceptions. Much, much improved.
LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UNITED MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 52%-48% Man United
Shots: Liverpool 19-13 Man United
Shots on target: Liverpool 6-4 Man United
Corners: Liverpool 6-9 Man United
Fouls: Liverpool 10-13 Man United
BEST STATS
31 - Mo Salah has 18 goals and 13 assists in 19 Premier League games this season, the most goal involvements ever by a player in their first 19 appearances of a campaign in the competition, overtaking Luis Suárez's 30 in 2013-14 (23 goals, 7 assists). Throne. pic.twitter.com/QpNVAnD7DN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2025
Liverpool are the first side not to make a single tackle in the first half of a Premier League game this season. 🤯 https://t.co/0diXbkUFTE
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 5, 2025
Manchester United have scored their first Premier League goal at Anfield in 558 minutes of action.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 5, 2025
That's nine hours and 18 minutes that they went without a goal.#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/5UYLOMsI2V
That didn't last long.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 5, 2025
Seven minutes after going behind, Liverpool are level!
Cody Gakpo has scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time in his Liverpool career.#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/v8TM9icG7i
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool and Man United put their Premier League campaigns on pause after Sunday's game, as the Reds face Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday before hosting Accrington Stanley in their FA Cup third-round tie next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Man United prepare for the pick of the FA Cup fixtures next Sunday, travelling to the Emirates to take on 14-time winners Arsenal in seven days' time.
Ben Knapton
