The old rivals staged a thrilling draw at Anfield
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Amad Diallo scored the late equaliser as Manchester United teased their recent form to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
It looked like Ruben Amorim’s United would go home empty-handed despite a strong performance, but Diallo fired home in the 80th minute to give his team a point.
United had gone ahead in the 52nd minute when Lisandro Martinez powered home a ferocious shot from a tight angle.
But a stunned Liverpool responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo scoring a very good equalizer before Mohamed Salah gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.
After Diallo’s equaliser, both teams had a chance to win in a frantic final, but it was the United fans who went home happier. Liverpool have 46 points from 19 games, six more than Arsenal, while United have climbed to 13th place with 23 points.
Follow the latest reactions from Anfield on our blog below:
If the measure of a Manchester United player is how he plays against his fiercest rivals, then Amad Diallo has started under auspices. His United career has yet to reach 50 games and yet he has shown his ability to have the last laugh against Manchester City and Liverpool. Last month, a late, game-changing intervention in a Manchester derby; Last March, an extra-time winner faced Liverpool. Here, with United losing at Anfield and about to suffer their fifth consecutive defeat, Amad made the impression again. Instead, United have become the fifth team to deny victory to league leader Arne Slot.
For a team that rarely came to Anfield as favourites, it was quite a triumph; It could have been a genuine victory if Harry Maguire hadn’t exploded in the 97th minute. “Great opportunity,” admitted Array Slot. However, he considered that these were “two lost issues. ”
For Liverpool, perhaps it only represented a minor hiccup on route to the 20th league title that would draw them level with United. Historic foes were tied here, even as a 2-2 means Liverpool’s points tally remains more than double United’s. There was nothing to separate them, and yet they have nothing in common.
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United: Amad Diallo proved once again that he is the boy of the instance by guiding the visiting team to a well-deserved point at Anfield
Liverpool’s medium-term target has been divided for some time, as off the field there remains the possibility of possibly seeing the club’s three seniors leave on loose transfers this summer.
Before Manchester United’s visit, this trio inevitably focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold, given Real Madrid’s not-so-subtle interest in signing him.
Yet ask most supporters around Anfield and it’s the other two they might be most anxious to sort out: Virgil van Dijk is captain, but also the best centre-back in the Premier League, perhaps on the planet. Arguably the best performer on the sodden park on Sunday evening, he served a reminder of why it will be so important to keep him around.
A lackluster performance by the Reds may not cost them too much this time, but they will have to avoid making the same mistakes as the name race heats up.
Roy Keane criticised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half performance at Anfield on Sunday at the end of a week in which the Liverpool full-back has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, joking he might be better suited to Tranmere Rovers.
Liverpool insist the 26-year-old, who is out of contract this summer, is not for sale and when the Champions League holders carried out an investigation a few days ago, they immediately rejected it with the message that they had no objective of discussing. he. further.
But the hypothesis has intensified amid reports of a bid from Madrid, adding an unwanted subplot to Liverpool’s clash with rivals Manchester United this weekend.
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher have been scathing about the Liverpool defender amid reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
Manchester United have activated their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract so that their former captain will remain at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to a long-term deal, said he was content with tying Maguire down for another year but called on the centre-back to be more of a leader.
Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world record for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he rejoined the team last season, and like Amorim prefers to play in the defensive line, has started in each of his last 3 games.
Coach Ruben Amorim has called on Maguire to improve on the pitch and as a leader
Liverpool have set a £30m fee for Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scottish winger.
Doak has attracted interest from Premier League and European clubs, with Crystal Palace reportedly making a £15million bid.
Liverpool flatly rejected the offers and the 19-year-old may play for them in the future.
The Scotland winger has impressed on loan at Middlesbrough and Palace are interested in bringing him to Selhurst Park
This is still one of those moments in which Rubén Amorim tries to create a new future, only for history – and a more problematic offer – to prevail over events.
The Manchester United manager will be without Marcus Rashford for the seventh consecutive match, after the English striker was ruled out due to illness on Sunday. There are many doubts about whether Amorim would have played him anyway, but that prospect took its toll on Liverpool’s preparation, as Rashford is a player that even Arne Slot’s most experienced defenders had an eye for. some apprehension. The 27-year-old has scored more goals against Liverpool than any other club, with seven goals, and many of them have been big moments for other managers.
One of them was decisive in the 2-1 victory that also marked Erik ten Hag’s first victory as United coach.
The Portuguese has sought a radical renewal to counteract a negative cycle, but a discouraging arrival at Anfield will test his commitment.
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, he later revealed, in November 2023. In January 2024, he went public. Liverpool’s search for a manager could begin; not publicly, given their preference for doing their business as quietly as possible, but at least with one layer of secrecy removed.
They were soon informed that Xabi Alonso was contemplating staying at Bayer Leverkusen for another year. For many around the world, Rubén Amorim of Sporting CP then assumed the prestige of favorite. This is not the case, Liverpool would say; It is just one of the many topics they analyzed. There was no option they liked, they insist, until they landed at Arne Slot in Feyenoord. But he seemed to be emerging from the shadows. The high-profile nature of the Portuguese bid contrasted with the low-key technique adopted by Slot. They gave him the task stealthily, almost without warning.
Five months after doing so, Amorim will arrive at Anfield on Sunday; but at the level of Manchester United. An assembly of feuding management teams gave them very different reports at the helm of England’s two biggest clubs. Slot had the easiest start at Liverpool, Amorim the hardest start at United. Slot has taken his team to the top of the Premier League and the Champions League. Amorim warned that his new employers risked ending up in the Championship. “This club wants a shock,” he said on Monday.
The Reds considered the Portuguese coach, only to opt for the Dutch tactician, who has shone as Jurgen Klopp’s successor
Mohamed Salah has said he refuses to be distracted by the uncertainty about his future, as he concentrates on having an “unbelievable season” to meet his target of winning the Premier League again with Liverpool.
The Egypt forward is in the last six months of his contract and said he is still “far away” from agreeing a new deal with the club.
But Salah leads the Premier League in goals and assists, with 17 and 13, and helped Liverpool take a six-point lead.
Speculation is rife over the striker’s long career at Anfield, with his contract expiring this summer.
Arne Slot has admitted to having conversations with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool right-back being the subject of an initial investigation by Real Madrid ahead of the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract in the summer, he is now allowed to negotiate terms with foreign clubs for a possible flexible move at the end of the season, although reports recommend that the Spanish club could return with an offer to take him to Madrid this month.
And that’s despite the Reds rejecting their initial talks on a deal as they intend to continue negotiations on an extension for the England international.
The right back is a player for the La Liga giants and his contract ends this summer
Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.
But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, are out of contract this summer and could leave Anfield on a flexible transfer. The 26-year-old has been talking about a pre-contract with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.
The Dutch coach believes the uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s future, with Real Madrid already making an approach, has ensured the squad has not become complacent after topping the Premier League and Champions League
If the measure of a Manchester United player is how he performs against his fiercest rivals, then Amad Diallo has started under smart auspices. His career at United has not yet reached 50 games and, however, he has demonstrated his ability to have the last word against Manchester. City and Liverpool. Last month, a game-changing intervention in a Manchester derby; Last March they won in extra time against Liverpool. Here, with United losing at Anfield and heading for a fifth straight defeat, Amad made the impression again. Instead, United have become the fifth team to deny the league leaders victory under Arne. Slot.
For a team that rarely came to Anfield as favorites, this is quite a triumph, although it could have been a real victory if Harry Maguire had not exploded in the 97th minute. “A wonderful opportunity,” admitted Slot. However, I judged he “lost by two points. “
For Liverpool, it represented just a small setback on the road to the 20th league title that would bring them closer to United. The historic warring sides were the point here, although a 2-2 draw means Liverpool’s problems overall remain more than double United’s. Nothing separates them and yet they have nothing in common.
Liverpool’s medium-term target has been divided for some time, as off the field there remains the possibility of possibly seeing the club’s three seniors leave on loose transfers this summer.
Ahead of the visit of Machester United, the biggest focus from that trio was inevitably on Trent Alexander-Arnold, given Real Madrid’s not-so-subtle interest in his signature.
However, if you ask the maximum number of Anfield supporters, these are the other two they would be most interested in tackling: Virgil van Dijk is the captain, but also the most productive centre-back in the Premier League, perhaps the world. Arguably the most productive player on the soggy park Sunday night, it’s a reminder of why it’s so important to retain him.
Roy Keane criticised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half performance at Anfield on Sunday at the end of a week in which the Liverpool full-back has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, joking he might be better suited to Tranmere Rovers.
Liverpool insist the 26-year-old, who is out of contract this summer, is not for sale and when the Champions League holders made an inquiry a few days ago, they immediately dismissed the message that they had no aim in discussing him. further.
But the hypothesis has intensified amid reports of an offer from Madrid, adding an unwanted subplot to Liverpool’s clash with rivals Manchester United this weekend.
Manchester United have activated their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract so that their former captain remains at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to a lengthy deal, said he was pleased to tie Maguire down for another year but called on the centre-back to be more of a leader.
Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world record for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he returned to the team last season with Array and with Amorim, who prefers play defense 3. Has started each of his last 3 games.
Liverpool have set a £30m fee for Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scottish winger.
Doak has attracted European and Premier League clubs, with Crystal Palace making a £15m bid.
Liverpool have turned down offers out of hand and believe the 19-year-old can play for them in the future.
This is still one of those moments in which Rubén Amorim tries to create a new future, only for history – and a more problematic offer – to prevail over events.
The Manchester United manager will be without Marcus Rashford for the seventh consecutive match, after the English striker was ruled out due to illness on Sunday. There are many doubts about whether Amorim would have played him anyway, but that prospect took its toll on Liverpool’s preparation, as Rashford is a player that even Arne Slot’s most experienced defenders had an eye for. some apprehension. The 27-year-old has scored more goals against Liverpool than any other club, with seven goals, and many of them have been big moments for other managers.
One was the crucial clincher in a 2-1 win that was also Erik ten Hag’s first victory as United manager.
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, he later revealed, in November 2023. In January 2024, it was made public. Liverpool’s search for a manager is just beginning; Not publicly, given his preference for doing his business as discreetly as possible, but at least through a layer of secrecy.
They were soon informed that Xabi Alonso was minded to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year. To many in the wider world, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim assumed a status as the frontrunner after that. Not so, Liverpool would say; he was merely one of several they looked into. There was no preferred choice, they insist, until they alighted on Feyenoord’s Arne Slot. But he seemed to emerge from the shadows. The high-profile nature of the Portuguese’s candidacy contrasted with the low-key approach adopted by Slot. He got the job by stealth, almost without warning.
Five months after doing so, Amorim will arrive at Anfield on Sunday; but at the height of Manchester United. An assembly of opposing management teams gave them very different reports at the helm of England’s two biggest clubs. Slot had the easiest start at Liverpool, Amorim the most difficult start at United. Slot has led his team to the top of the Premier League and Champions League. Amorim warned that his new employers were at risk of ending up in the championship. “This club wants a shock,” he said Monday.
Mohamed Salah has said he refuses to be distracted by the uncertainty about his future, as he concentrates on having an “unbelievable season” to meet his target of winning the Premier League again with Liverpool.
The Egypt forward is in the last six months of his contract and said he is still “far away” from agreeing a new deal with the club.
But Salah leads the Premier League in goals and assists, with 17 and 13, and helped Liverpool take a six-point lead.
Arne Slot has admitted to having conversations with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool right-back the subject of an initial investigation by Real Madrid ahead of the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract in the summer, he is now allowed to negotiate terms with overseas clubs for a possible flexible move at the end of the season, although reports recommend the Spanish club could return with an offer to bring him to Madrid this month.
This despite the Reds rejecting their initial talks on a deal, even though they intend to continue negotiations on an extension for the England international.
Arne Slot has said he finds the saga of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s long career useful because it prevents his Liverpool players from becoming overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.
But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and could leave Anfield on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has been able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.
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