The old rivals finished off a thrilling draw at Anfield
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Amad Diallo equalized late as Manchester United laughed off their recent form to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a thrilling 2-2 draw 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 Martínez unleashed a fierce shot from a tight angle.
But an off-key Liverpool responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo curling home a stunning equaliser before Mohamed Salah put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
After Diallo’s leveller both sides had chances to win in a frantic finale but it was United’s fans who went home happiest. Liverpool have 46 points from 19 games, six more than Arsenal, while United moved up a place to 13th with 23 points.
Follow Anfield’s latest reactions 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 not yet reached 50 games and, however, he has shown his ability to have the last laugh against Manchester City and Liverpool. Last month, a delayed, game-changing intervention in a Manchester derby; Last March, an overtime winner faced Liverpool. Here, with United losing at Anfield and on the verge of suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, Amad once again gave the impression. On the other hand, United have become the fifth team to deny league leaders Arne Slot a victory.
For a team who have rarely arrived at Anfield as such underdogs, it was a triumph of sorts, though it could have been an actual win had Harry Maguire not blazed over in the 97th minute. “A big chance,” Slot admitted. He nevertheless deemed it “two points dropped”.
For Liverpool, it represented only a minor setback on the way to a 20th league name that would bring them closer to United. The historic warring sides were the point here, although 2-2 means Liverpool’s overall problems are still more than double United’s. Nothing separates them and yet they have nothing in common.
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United: Amad Diallo proved once again he is the man for the big occasion as he steered the visiting side to a well-earned point at Anfield
Liverpool’s medium term has been divided for some time, given that off the field, the possibility remains that the club’s three most sensible talents could 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.
However, if you ask the maximum number of Anfield fans, these are the other two they would be most interested in addressing: Virgil van Dijk is the captain, but also the most productive centre-back in the Premier League, perhaps in the world. Arguably the most productive player in the soggy park Sunday night, it’s a reminder of why it’s so important to retain him.
A poor performance by the Reds may not cost them too much this time around, but they will have to avoid making the same mistakes as the race for the name heats up.
Roy Keane criticized Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half performance at Anfield on Sunday, at the end of a week in which the Liverpool full-back was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, joking that he could be more suitable for 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 speculation has intensified amid reports of a moment Madrid is offering, adding an unwanted subplot to Liverpool’s clash with rivals Manchester United this weekend.
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher were scathing about the Liverpool defender amid transfer 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 remains 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 returned to the team last season with Array and with Amorim, who prefers to play as a 3-man defender. He has started each of his last 3 games.
Coach Rubén Amorim has called Maguire on the pitch and as a leader
Liverpool have put a £30m price tag on Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scotland winger.
Doak has attracted interest from both Premier League and European clubs, with Crystal Palace reportedly 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.
The inspired Scottish winger on loan at Middlesbrough and Palace are keen to bring him to Selhurst Park.
This is 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 a seventh straight game after the England striker was ruled out on Sunday due to illness. There are many doubts about whether Amorim would have played with 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 great moments for other managers.
One of them 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 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 he might have done, Amorim will make it to Anfield on Sunday; but in charge of Manchester United. A meeting of managerial opposites has given them very different experiences in charge of England’s two biggest clubs. Slot has had the smoothest of starts at Liverpool, Amorim the rockiest of beginnings at United. Slot has taken his team to the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables. Amorim has warned his new employers are at risk of dropping into the Championship. “This club needs 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 says he refuses to be distracted by the uncertainty over his future, as he focuses on an “incredible season” for his goal of regaining the Premier League 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 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.
And that’s despite the Reds rejecting their initial talks on a deal as they intend to continue negotiating 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 long career is useful to him because it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
Real Madrid this week made a first technical for the right-back, which Liverpool rejected before the Champions League winners could even make an offer.
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-contractual agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.
The Dutch coach believes that the uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s future, with Real Madrid already taking steps, has made the team unhappy after dominating the Premier League and Champions League.
If the measure of a Manchester United player is how he plays against his fiercest rivals, then Amad Diallo has started auspiciously. His United career has not yet reached 50 games and, however, he has shown his ability to have the last laugh against Manchester City and Liverpool. Last month, a delayed, game-changing intervention in a Manchester derby; Last March, an overtime winner faced Liverpool. Here, with United losing at Anfield and on the verge of suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, Amad once again gave the impression. On the other hand, United have become the fifth team to deny league leaders Arne Slot a victory.
For a team that rarely came to Anfield as underdogs, it was quite a triumph; It could have been a genuine victory if Harry Maguire had not gone ahead in the 97th minute. “A lot of luck,” admitted Slot. However, he judged it “by two points less. ”
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’s medium-term objective has been divided for some time, with the possibility of possibly seeing the club’s senior three leave on single transfers this summer lingering off the pitch.
Before Manchester United’s visit, this trio inevitably focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold, given Real Madrid’s not-so-subtle interest in signing him.
However, if you ask the maximum number of Anfield fans, these are the other two they would be most interested in addressing: Virgil van Dijk is the captain, but also the most productive centre-back in the Premier League, perhaps in the world. Arguably the most productive player in 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 was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, joking that he might be better suited for Tranmere Rovers. .
Liverpool insist the 26-year-old’s contract, whose contract expires this summer, is not for sale and when the Champions League champions carried out an investigation a few days ago, they immediately rejected him with the message that they had no point to discuss. he. farther away.
But the speculation intensified amid reports of a second bid from Madrid, adding an unwanted sub-plot to Liverpool’s clash with rivals Manchester United this weekend.
Manchester United have activated their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract so that he remains their former captain at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to renewing the deal, said he was happy to tie up Maguire for another year but asked the centre-back to be more of a leader.
Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world-record fee for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he worked his way back into the team last season, and with Amorim preferring to play a back three, he has started each of their last three games.
Liverpool have put a £30m price tag on Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scotland winger.
Doak has attracted European and Premier League clubs, with Crystal Palace making an offer of £15 million.
Liverpool flatly rejected the offers and the 19-year-old may 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 a seventh straight game after the England striker was ruled out on Sunday due to illness. There are many doubts about whether Amorim would have played with 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 great 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, he made it public. Liverpool’s search for a manager is just beginning; not publicly, given his preference for conducting his business as discreetly as possible, but at least 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 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.
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 Egyptian striker is in the last six months of his contract and stated that he is still “far away” from reaching a new agreement 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 acknowled he has had conversations with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool right-back the subject of an initial enquiry from Real Madrid heading into the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract in summer he’s now allowed to discuss terms with overseas clubs for a potential free transfer at the end of the season, though reports suggest the Spanish club could return with an offer to take him to Madrid this month.
This is despite the Reds rejecting their initial talks over a deal, even though they intend to continue negotiations over an extension for the England international.
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 a first technical for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rejected before the Champions League champions could even make an offer.
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.
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