We expected it to be a unique meeting, but a improved Manchester United allowed Liverpool to be tested in an exciting adjustment in Anfield when they took six problems in advance in the head of the classification.
United surprised Anfield by taking the lead through Lisandro Martínez in the 52nd minute, but it only lasted seven minutes when Cody Gakpo scored an equally impressive goal before a Mohamed Salah penalty gave the hosts the credit. However, Amad equalized with 10 minutes remaining. Harry Maguire then came close to winning the match, but shot from close range.
United attacked constantly down their left against Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a challenging game, while Darwin Nunez received a yellow card for a foul on Matthijs de Ligt that could have been deemed a red.
Here, James Pearce, Mark Carey and Mark Critchley sum up the action at Anfield.
Diogo Jota and Núñez were patiently waiting when Gakpo categorically criticized an equalizer in the corner just before the hour.
Some managers would have taken inventory and re-evaluated as Liverpool still had so much time for a winner.
But Slot was bold, stuck to his guns and went ahead with the double substitution. With Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz replaced, the hosts effectively played with a front four.
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It looked like a master coup when Ligt tried in the Caja and Salah changed about his purpose from the season from the penalty spot.
It was the Egyptian’s 16th goal in 17 matches against United and moved him level with Thierry Henry in joint-seventh place on the all-time Premier League goalscorers list, on 175.
However, despite the attack they had, Liverpool may have simply failed to overcome the attack and paid the price.
Ibrahima Konate may not block Alejandro Garnacho’s crossing on the right and love there to save a point for United.
James Pearce
Few have given a lot of hopes for Sunday’s clash against Liverpool, with Ruben Amorim’s team alarmed by a bad streak with 4 losses in his last five games of the Premier League. Instead, United possibly had its most productive performance since the arrival of Amorim and the tactics was transparent from the beginning.
While Konaté returned from injury, Rasmus Hojlund has visited United’s Left Lounge several times to check on the French central defender’s fitness. It was a success and he had a remarkable chance in the first half of which he deserved to have done better. By this time, Diogo Dalot’s adventures from the left back allowed Alexander-Arnold to pass the Portuguese foreigner for an Olympic sprinter in safe moments, while Liverpool’s right back had a defensive trap of the meeting.
As proof of their approach, 54% of United’s attacking touches were made on the left third of the pitch. His first goal came with a good pass from Bruno Fernandes on the left wing and a forceful shot from Martínez, while his moment came with a wise cross from Alejandro Garnacho on the left flank for Amad to convert for the first time.
As well as the flanks, United were looking to exploit Liverpool’s high line with simple balls over the top — getting joy on multiple occasions as they rocked Liverpool for most of the game. The typically calm Virgil van Dijk was forced into last-ditch tackles that he didn’t want to make, with Slot’s side failing to answer the relentless approach from United.
Mark Carey
“We will have to be brave, we have to play football, as undeniable as that,” were Amorim’s words in his pre-match interview. “We have to remember that this is the fun component of our week. “
Was it fun? Not always, especially not that 11-minute spell when Liverpool fought back. But it’s the kind of brave, aggressive, high-octane thing Amorim demanded. The united manager searched for an answer. He has one.
United have been hoping for their first win at Anfield since 2016 – a 10-game series, the longest since 1927 in all competitions – but, as in last season’s corresponding match, it was one point earned rather than two lost.
It is also a greater appearance. Although last season the United covered, protecting its area for the highest life position, it was a demonstration of ingenuity and struggle that made its desperate form in the game even more impressive.
Now it is a victory in the Etihad and a draw in Anfield for Amorim, or the least they deserved, and it is possible that Maguare has won it at the last moment. This is something to build, which is more than expected at the beginning of the day.
Marc Crichley
There is a new banner in the Kop with a transparent message for the owners of Liverpool. He said: “FSG gives Mo and co their money” with photographs of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, who have entered the last six months of their existing agreements.
The build-up to this game had been governed through Alexander-Arnold’s long Communicate career after Liverpool rejected a move from Real Madrid to buy him in January.
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Slot was adamant it wouldn’t cause a distraction, but his vice-captain endured a testing afternoon.
United targeted Liverpool’s right side when attacking, and Dalot caused a lot of disruption for Alexander-Arnold by exposing the area to him.
The distribution of the English right side also sometimes disappointed him, since he granted ownership at a lower price in dangerous areas. I was indebted to goalkeeper Alisson after betting on Hojlund just before the break.
When United broke through early in the second half, Martinez pounced on a misplaced pass from Alexander-Arnold.
Reserved for having retired to Fernandes, Alexander-Arnold replaced through Conor Bradley while Liverpool was frustrated.
Jaime Pearce
United’s numbers in the first 30 minutes of Monday night’s loss to Newcastle United Casemiro and Christian Eriksen played consistently in midfield. Things improved with the arrival of Kobbie Mainoo that night, and then took a step forward with Manuel Ugarte’s return from suspension here.
Amorim’s formula means United are outnumbered in the middle of the park compared to the three-man intermediates. Whatever the association, you want the legs to cover the space, both laterally and up and down. Mainoo and Ugarte give United just that.
Ugarte rivals Amad as the most impressive United player since the arrival of Amorim and, as Gary Neville stood out in his co-commentary tasks for Sky Sports, Mainoo has had an intelligent week after some struggles lately. Together, they gave United the type of anchor that they lacked so much. .
It is not infallible. The pair started together at Molineux in the Boxing Day loss to Wolves and Mainoo struggled that night. The rotation is still in place, so Casemiro and Eriksen will have to replace others at times, but an Ugarte-Mainoo partnership is starting to look like a prerequisite for this formula to work at its best.
Mark Critchley
Scoring a last-minute winner at Anfield elevates any United player to immortality. Just ask John O’Shea. Eighteen years later, Harry Maguire came inches away from emulating O’Shea, only at the Anfield Road end rather than the Kop.
It began with a creative United pass from Ugarte that beat Liverpool’s desperate attempts to launch a counter-attack. The brilliant Fernandes then put another ball into the hosts’ defence, as he had done for much of the afternoon.
At the end of a grueling week, Joshua Zirkzee almost provided the assist, but with a slight error and possibly moving slightly offside.
Maguire was not to know that, though. The former United captain did well to hold his run and make space for himself inside the box, but it was a centre-half’s finish, over the bar with the goal gaping. It would have been a remarkable moment to cap off United’s best Anfield display in years.
Marcos Critchley
Speaking about Alexander-Arnold and his long career after the game, Slot said: “I think nine out of 10 people will say it affected it, but I am one of the 10 that tells you that it did not. affected. What affected him was that he had to play Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, two headlines for Portugal who are very wonderful players. We have a player here, Diogo Jota, and he does not commonly play for Portugal, what tells you how intelligent is United, and if those players enter a game, that is what United did occasionally did, it is very difficult to play opposite them.
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“It is more difficult for Trent to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot than the rumors of the week. That is my opinion and everyone will tell you that it has to do with the rumors, but my opinion is different.
“It was transparent that Trent had some difficult moments, as we did as a team, however, it’s not Trent’s first time. Most of the games he’s played for this club have been very good, but I can do that if other people say so. I’ve never played a bad game for this club, it’s probably happened before, and especially opposed to quality players like United, especially in the positions he has to deal with.
Speaking after the match, Amorim said: “I need to see my team play much better, however, the most vital thing to face today is the mentality: we were another team today, not by the formula of tactics, we faced the Festival the way we are meant to.
“Check to push every day; Sometimes it may not be the most productive way because I check those players in every one I make. I think we’re not just players, each and every one at Manchester United, too comfortably and infrequently we want a shock. We lost 3 games in a row at home, some of the games we suffered, like two goals doing nothing. Today I’m really upset. Because I’m pleased with the performance, however, each and every one will tell this team, they did a smart job. »
Wednesday, January 8: Tottenham (A), Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, 8 p. m. GMT, 3 p. m. E. T.
Sunday, Jan. 12: Arsenal (A), FA Cup third round, p. m. GMT, 10 a. m. ET