The old rivals staged a thrilling draw at Anfield
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Amad Diallo struck a late equaliser as Manchester United made a mockery of their recent form to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
It looked as though Ruben Amorim’s United would go home empty-handed despite a vastly-improved display but Diallo swept in a shot in the 80th minute to earn his side a point.
United had taken the lead in the 52nd minute when Lisandro Martinez unleashed a ferocious shot from a tight angle.
But a struggling Liverpool responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo scoring a very good 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 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 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 just a minor 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 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.
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.
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’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.
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 will remain 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 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 £30million fee for Ben Doak after rejecting offers for the Scottish winger.
Doak has attracted Premier League and European clubs with Crystal Palace reportedly making a £15million bid.
Liverpool have turned down offers out of hand and believe the 19-year-old can 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 won’t use Marcus Rashford for a seventh successive game, after the England forward was ruled out for Sunday due to illness. There was considerable doubt over whether Amorim would have played him anyway but the prospect did weigh over Liverpool’s preparation, since Rashford is one player even Arne Slot’s most experienced defenders had a certain trepidation about. The 27-year-old has scored more times against Liverpool than any other club, with seven goals, and many of those have been big moments for different 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 been looking for a radical revamp to counter a negative cycle, but a daunting arrival at Anfield will test his commitment.
Jürgen 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 removing 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 height 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 toughest 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 Monday.
The Reds, the Portuguese coach, finally opted for the Dutch tactician, who shone as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
Mohamed Salah says 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 Egyptian striker is in the final six months of his contract and said he is still “far” from reaching a new deal with the club.
But Salah leads the way in the Premier League for both goals and assists, with 17 and 13, as he has helped Liverpool take a six-point lead.
Speculation has been rife over the forward’s future at Anfield, with his deal expiring this summer
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 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 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 a first technical down 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.
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 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, this is quite a triumph, although it could have been a real win if Harry Maguire hadn’t burst in the 97th minute. “A wonderful opportunity,” Slot admitted.
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.
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.
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.
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 Real Madrid move, joking that he might be a better fit 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.
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 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 defender 3. He has started each of his last 3 games.
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.
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 won’t use Marcus Rashford for a seventh successive game, after the England forward was ruled out for Sunday due to illness. There was considerable doubt over whether Amorim would have played him anyway but the prospect did weigh over Liverpool’s preparation, since Rashford is one player even Arne Slot’s most experienced defenders had a certain trepidation about. The 27-year-old has scored more times against Liverpool than any other club, with seven goals, and many of those have been big moments for different 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 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’s just one of the many topics they researched. They didn’t like any election, they insist, until they landed at Arne Slot at Feyenoord. But it seemed to emerge from the shadows. The prominent nature of the Portuguese offering contrasted with the discreet technique adopted through Slot. He was given the task stealthily, 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.
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 Egyptian striker is in the final six months of his contract and said he is still “far” from reaching a new deal with the club.
But Salah leads the way in the Premier League for both goals and assists, with 17 and 13, as he has helped Liverpool take a six-point lead.
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 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.
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, 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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