Man Utd 2 Liverpool 2
It is one of the biggest rivalries in football in England. Man Utd versus Liverpool. Two teams with lots of history and bitterness between each other. For the visitors, they had title ambitions to keep on track. While for the hosts, they hoped to derail them.
The Red Devils have had another torrid season, full of disappointment and false dawns. Their fall from grace from the Ferguson era of dominance is underpinned by the fact the highlight of their season could be ruining somebody else’s.
United started with intent but could not find the quality required in the final third to create anything of note. Liverpool were looking dangerous on the counter-attack. Salah fed the ball to Szoboszlai with a clean run at goal, only Onana standing in his way.
The Hungarian midfielder got a left-footed shot away from inside the box but the hosts’ keeper made a brilliant one-handed stop to deny the visitors an opening goal. The ease in which Liverpool cut through United’s defence will have been a concern.
Credit: @LFC
Klopp’s side forced a corner which was flicked on at the near post by Nunez. Diaz was free in the middle to volley home and break the deadlock. It was no more than The Reds had deserved as they dominated Man Utd in the early stages of the game.
Mac Allister was penalised for a pull on Fernandes as the midfielder skipped past him. As the free kick was clipped into the back post, Casemiro headed across goal but there was no one able to get on the end of it to convert. It was the first opening the hosts had created.
The visitors broke once again as the ball was worked to Diaz on the left. He spotted Salah in space by the pass was slightly behind him. The Egyptian shot first time but it was a routine save for Onana. Liverpool should have done more with the opportunity.
Robertson then found Szoboszlai in the box. He played the ball to Salah at the back post but his volley sailed over the crossbar. The Reds had dominated the half but failed to convert the numerous chances they had created. Something they may to come to rue later on.
Five minutes into the second half and the hosts had failed to have a single shot in the game. Then the moment that changed the game. Young defender Quansah was in possession, under no pressure from the opposition whatsoever.
Inexplicably, he passed the ball straight to Fernandes just inside the Liverpool half. The Portuguese midfielder hit a first time shot, catching Kelleher off his line and out of position. The ball nestled in the back of the net to draw the hosts level against the run of play. Old Trafford erupted.
Credit: @ManUtd
It was a shocking error by the visitors’ centre back. Everything was going well, it was proving to be an easy outing for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Much like a routine airline flight, all going according to plan, then for some reason Quansah decided to open the plane door at 45,000 feet.
The goal awoke Man Utd from their slumber. As Old Trafford turned into a cauldron of noise, the Red Devils started to put the pressure on. As a move broke down, Liverpool countered with pace and numbers. As they approached the box, they had a five on two player overload.
Diaz played a pass into the back post to find Nunez and his effort was neither a cross nor shot. Klopp’s side continued to spurn good chances and now it was really beginning to cost them. In a game they should have put to bed already, the scores were level.
Then they paid the ultimate price. A break by United saw the ball worked to Mainoo in the box. He made some room to get a shot away and curled a sublime effort into the far corner to put Erik ten Hag’s side ahead for the first time in the game. The roof nearly came off the stadium.
Klopp was furious with his team on the touchline. The Reds continued to press and Gomez found Diaz in the middle of the goal. His shot was saved by Onana, with the rebound falling to Salah. Unbelievably, he smashed the follow up into the stands.
Elliott and Salah then exchanged a one-two on the edge of the box. The young midfielder ran across goal as Wan-Bissaka put in a sliding challenge. The defender got it all wrong as he missed the ball and chopped down the Liverpool player. The referee pointed to the spot.
Salah stepped up and sent Onana the wrong way as he stroked the ball home. With minutes remaining in the game, the visitors had a lifeline. A draw was not enough for them to go back to the top of the league and they needed another goal.
The chance to win it came as Robertson headed a ball down at the back post. It dropped to Diaz who slid in but got underneath the ball and his effort sailed over the crossbar. It was a huge opportunity for The Reds to steal the win in a game they should have won comfortably.
Man Utd held on for the draw, despite seven added minutes at the end of the game. It was two points dropped for Jurgen Klopp’s side and only time will tell whether this result costs them in their challenge for the Premier League title.
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