The old rivals played out 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 taken the lead in the 52nd minute when Lisandro Martínez unleashed a fierce 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 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 all the latest reaction from Anfield in our live blog below:
If the measure of a Manchester United player is how he plays against his fiercest rivals, then Amad Diallo has made an auspicious start. 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 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, 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 showed once again that he is the boy of the instance by leading the visiting team to a well-deserved 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.
Still, if you ask the majority of Anfield fans, it is the other two who would be most interested in settling: Virgil van Dijk is the captain, but also the most productive centre-back on the planet in the Premier League. player on the soggy park on Sunday night, reminded us why it will be so important to retain him.
A poor 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 that he could be better matched. 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 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.
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 triggered their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract to keep their former captain at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to agreeing an extended deal, said he was happy 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 and with Amorim who prefers to play With a defense of 3, he has started each of his last 3 games.
Coach Ruben Amorim has called on Maguire to improve on the pitch and as a leader
Liverpool have put a £30million tag on Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scottish winger.
Doak has attracted interest from both Premier League and European clubs, with Crystal Palace reportedly making a £15m 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
It is yet another of those moments where Ruben Amorim is trying to create a new future, only for history – and a more problematic present – to impose on 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, which was also Erik ten Hag’s first victory as United coach.
The Portuguese has pushed for a severe change to reverse a negative cycle, but a daunting trip to Anfield will test his commitment
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, as 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 contemplating staying at Bayer Leverkusen for another year. For many around the world, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim then assumed the prestige of favourite. This is not the case, Liverpool would say; It is just one of the many issues they analyzed. There was no option they liked, they insist, until they landed at Arne Slot at Feyenoord. But he seemed to be coming out of the shadows. The prominent nature of the Portuguese candidacy contrasted with the discreet 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 conflicting 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 propelled his team to the top of the Premier League and Champions League standings. Amorim warned that his new employers were in danger of ending up in the league. “This club wants a surprise,” 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 said he refuses to be distracted by uncertainty over his future as he focuses on an “incredible season” as he aims to win back 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 a first investigation through Real Madrid on the eve of the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract this 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.
That’s despite the Reds rejecting their initial conversations over a deal, amid an intention to continue negotiating over an extension for the England international.
The right-back is a target for LaLiga’s giants and is out of contract in summer
Arne Slot has said 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 made a first move for the right back this week, 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-contract 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 the 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 favourites, it was quite a triumph; It could have been a genuine victory if Harry Maguire had not scored in the 97th minute. “A lot of luck,” admitted Slot. However, he judged it “by two points less. ”
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 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 the stopover at Manchester United, this trio inevitably targeted Trent Alexander-Arnold, given Real Madrid’s not-so-subtle interest in his signature.
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 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’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 their former captain remains at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to agreeing an extended deal, said he was happy 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 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 set a £30m fee for Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scottish winger.
Doak has attracted Premier League and European clubs and Crystal Palace reportedly made an offer of £15 million.
Liverpool flatly rejected the offers and the 19-year-old may play for them in the future.
It is yet another of those moments where Ruben Amorim is trying to create a new future, only for history – and a more problematic present – to impose on events.
The Manchester United manager will not use Marcus Rashford for the seventh consecutive game after the England striker was ruled out due to illness on Sunday. There are many doubts about whether Amorim would have played him anyway, but that prospect weighed on Liverpool’s preparation, as Rashford is a player that even Arne Slot’s most experienced defenders were somewhat apprehensive about. 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, which was also Erik ten Hag’s first victory as United coach.
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, as 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 said he refuses to be distracted by 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.
Arne Slot has admitted he has had conversations with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool right-back the subject of an initial inquiry from Real Madrid ahead of the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract this 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.
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 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, 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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