Manchester United showcased their resilience under manager Ruben Amorim by securing a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, marking their first goals there since 2018 and disrupting Liverpool’s attempt to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
As the match neared its conclusion, Liverpool seemed poised to move eight points ahead of Arsenal, having one game still in hand. The atmosphere intensified with the home supporters ready to celebrate, but Manchester United had other plans. Amad Diallo redirected Alejandro Garnacho’s delivery into the net, adding to Lisandro Martinez’s first goal in two years, which initially gave United the lead. This came after Liverpool had taken a 2-1 advantage, thanks to Cody Gakpo and a penalty from Mohamed Salah, who continues his pursuit of Premier League records.
Amorim’s earlier call for leadership was answered emphatically, particularly given United’s challenging start under his tenure, with five losses in eight matches. This performance against their arch-rivals Liverpool, who themselves are chasing a record-equalling 20th league title, demonstrated the high stakes of this historic rivalry.
The game, which nearly faced a snow-induced postponement, saw Liverpool eventually finding their rhythm. After a tepid first half, they were sparked into action by Martinez’s superb strike from a tight angle, which ricocheted in off the crossbar. Gakpo’s impressive solo effort and Salah’s penalty—his 18th goal of the season—seemed to set Liverpool on course for victory.
However, a pivotal VAR intervention changed the course of the game, awarding Salah his penalty after initially being overlooked by the referee. Despite Andre Onana’s best efforts, Salah’s strike was unstoppable. Yet, United was not to be denied, with Diallo cleverly positioning himself to score past a static Liverpool defence.
While Salah’s consistency remains a cornerstone for Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s distracted performance suggested that recent transfer speculations may have affected his focus. Alexander-Arnold’s errors were exploited by United, especially by Diogo Dalot on the right flank, where United’s first goal originated.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession and chances, Manchester United’s tenacity was on full display. Players like Harry Maguire and the midfield duo of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte were instrumental in bolstering United’s resolve, maintaining pressure and disrupting Liverpool’s flow.
This result leaves Manchester United still within a precarious position in the league standings but injects a dose of optimism into their campaign. Conversely, for Liverpool, it was a valuable two points dropped but they remain leaders, albeit with reduced margin.
