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United seized an unlikely lead through Lisandro Martinez in the 52nd minute of the game before Cody Gakpo equalised for the hosts seven minutes later. Mohamed Salah’s spot kick in the 70th minute helped Liverpool turn the game around, only for Amad Diallo to restore…Read More
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, left, controls a ball chased by Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, right, during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester United and Liverpool played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday in the Premier League.
United seized an unlikely lead through Lisandro Martinez in the 52nd minute of the game before Cody Gakpo equalised for the hosts seven minutes later. Mohamed Salah’s spot kick in the 70th minute helped Liverpool turn the game around, only for Amad Diallo to restore parity.
Slot started Alisson in goal, behind the defensive quartet of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were deployed in holding roles with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on either wing. Curtis Jones was fielded behind lone striker Luis Diaz.
Ruben Amorim opted for Andre Onana in between the sticks, with Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt as the three centre backs. Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui were deployed as wing backs with Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo played right behind Rasmus Hojlund.
Liverpool had a couple of chances in the opening half but could not find a way to get the ball into the back of the net as their finishing was off the mark and United sustained.
The hosts kept advancing down the field time and again as they troubled the visiting United, but neither side could break the deadlock in the first essay of the rivalry fixture as the teams walked into the tunnel with nothing between them.
United, who held out against the opposition pressure thanks to their organisation ended the first half strongly as they ventured into the danger area twice in succession but couldn’t find the crucial touch to turn the ball into the net.
The second period of the game was off to a flier as United looked to stretch the Liverpool defence and piled pressure on the hosts. United’s efforts paid dividends in the 51st minute as Fernandes played Martinez through on the left inside the box and the Argentine defender smashed the ball into the top of the net to give the visitors the lead.
Liverpool responded in kind as they restored parity six minutes later through Gakpo as the Dutchman hammered one home after cutting inside from the left.
Slot replaced Diaz and Jones in favour of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota following the goal in order to turn the game on its head with thirty minutes of play still left.
And the table-toppers did just that as they were awarded a penalty for a De Ligt handball and Salah made no mistake in slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Diallo pegged the visitors back on level terms in the 80th minute as he put the final touch on a cross in from Alejandro Garnacho, who had come on to replace Mainoo minutes earlier.
The draw meant that United climbed to 13th in the league, while Liverpool remained atop the league table, with a six-point lead over chasing Arsenal, despite having played a game less.
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United Kingdom (UK)
