MAN UNITED 2, LIVERPOOL 2
Manchester United put a huge dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title bid following another epic encounter.
Three weeks after United knocked Liverpool out of the Emirates FA Cup following a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory, this was another Old Trafford classic.
Liverpool must be wondering how they didn’t win after dominating the game – they enjoyed 62 per cent possession and had 28 goal attempts to United’s nine.
It was the most chances United had face in a game at Old Trafford since 2003/04. Home and away they have faced 62 shots in the two games against Liverpool, the joint most by one side against another in a single season.
They were punished for lacking the cutting edge their general play deserved while United rode their luck but scored two memorable goals after taking the chances that came their way.
Luiz Diaz gave Liverpool a first-half lead, but they ought to have been out of sight after creating 15 goal attempts to United’s none.
United hit back after a blunder by Jarell Quansah – the Steve Gerrard slip moment which proved pivotal to an earlier title bid – as Bruno Fernandes scored a spectacular effort from the centre circle.
That was followed by an equally special strike from 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo who became United’s youngest-ever scorer against Liverpool.
United were undone as Mohamed Salah scored a late penalty after a reckless challenge by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
This leaves Liverpool second to Arsenal on goal difference – it is inferior by nine – while reigning champions Manchester City are one point behind in this in this thrilling title race.
United manager Erik ten Hag said: “Very mixed emotions. On one side I am disappointed that we have dropped seven points in one week after being in winning positions, but we have to blame ourselves for making stupid mistakes.
“On the other side I am very proud. You see how we are improving, and the potential of this squad is amazing – I am proud.
“In decisive areas we were losing battles especially with young players we were not confident to win them [duels].
“We encouraged in the second half to do better, and they stepped up.”
Ten Hag also praised teenagers Mainoo and Willy Kambwala who was handed only his second start due to a defensive injury crisis.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe said: “The goal [Mainoo’s] was a very good team goal and the finish was brilliant.
“He [Kambwala] has been training a while with us and his progress has been amazing. He started against West Ham and did very well and I never had any doubts about putting him in.
“He has done brilliantly, and I was pleased with his performance. It is signal for the future that this Manchester United squad has high potential if more players are available. In the back line we have had 27 different shapes.
“The next generation need to step in, and he is doing brilliant. The challenge for him is doing it consistently.
“Great opportunity for him and we have other options like bringing Casemiro in at centre-half, but today he deserved it and he showed it on the pitch.”
Mainoo said: “We are disappointed to be honest. I think we performed really well in the second half. The lads made minor mistakes and if we iron them out then we win the game.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to score my first Old Trafford goal and to do it in this fixture was even more special. We didn’t get the three points and that’s the main thing.
“Mistakes happen in games and they can be detrimental. It’s tough and it takes it out of you.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “We should have both games, but we didn’t which is our fault.
“I am not over the moon, but we will recover. We should have won the game, that is clear. We should have had other goals in the first half.
“They had no shots in the first half and 1-0 is the lowest we could expect. Really well done from Bruno. Then the stadium is coming alive, and we needed a few minutes to settle again and they scored another screamer.
“We had big chances before and after they scored. As far as I’m concerned, we have a point more than we did before. They put an extra shift in, that’s how it is. We will face that again against Everton. Fully deserved equaliser.
“I’m not angry at all with the boys but in the game I’m not just going to let things happen. We dropped too deep. There were plenty of situations where we could have defended the ball. You need to be proactive.
“We play now at home against Atalanta, difficult game but at home and then another. We don’t have many home games left. The team who wins the league in the end should deserve it. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.”
United made two changes to the side that lost 4-3 to Chelsea deep into stoppage time.
Teenager Kambwala made just his second league start for the Red Devils, coming in for the injured Raphael Varane. Jonny Evans, who replaced Varane in that game, was also injured.
Marcus Rashford was preferred to Antony while full-backs Harry Amass, 17, and Habeeb Ogunneye, 18, were the only two defenders on the United bench as centre backs Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof and left-back Luke Shaw were also missing.
Liverpool made three changes to the team that beat Sheffield United 3-1 on Thursday night.
Quansah, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo were recalled as Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch dropped to the bench.
United had the ball in the net after only 72 seconds but Alejandro Garnacho had strayed offside after they made a three-versus-three break.
Liverpool then carved out a great chance as Mohamed Salah released Dominik Szoboszlai whose shot was well kept out by Andre Onana outstretched left arm.
It was a high intensity start from both sides just as it was in the pulsating cup tie three weeks earlier.
Szoboszlai had another great chance but fired wide from Andrew Robertson’s cross when he ought to have hit the target.
Liverpool made the breakthrough mid-half when Szoboszlai’s corner was helped on by Darwin Nunez whose header was met by Diaz who volleyed home at the far post from six yards, his 13th goal of the season.
And they took total command of the match as in the space of two minutes Salah twice forced decent saves from Onana and then blazed over with the goal at his mercy while Nunez curled an effort narrowly over the bar.
The first half stats were damning as far as United were concerned as Liverpool had 15 goal attempts to none from ten Hag’s side while the visitors also enjoyed 58 per cent possession.
United were handed a 50th minute equaliser following a huge error by Quansah whose square pass was intercepted by Fernandes who, from the centre circle, lobbed Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for a spectacular 10th goal of the season.
It was United’s first goal attempt of the game and suddenly there was a shift in the match as United discovered a spark as Garnacho and Marcus Rashford had chances, Kelleher saving well from the latter.
Rashford limped off mid-half to be replaced by Antony while Liverpool brought on Curtis Jones and Gomez.
United completed a remarkable turnabout when they took the lead in the 66th minute when Mainoo, set up by Garnacho, bent in an effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It was the 18-year-old’s third senior goal after also scoring a dramatic late winner at Wolves.
Liverpool wasted a great chance to equalise as Diaz’s shot was parried by Onana and the rebound blazed over by Salah.
United made a second change with 11 minutes left as Garnacho was replaced by Sofyan Amrabat.
Liverpool were handed an 82nd minute penalty when substitute Harvey Elliott was tripped by Wan-Bissaka.
Salah, who had missed four of his last 11 penalties, stepped up to send Onana the wrong way as he scored his 11th goal against United, more than any other player has done in the Premier League era. It was also his sixth goal at Old Trafford, again more than any other player has netted.
United made a further change as Mainoo made way for Mason Mount.
Liverpool had the chance to snatch victory in the eighth of seven added minutes when a free kick was clear to Elliott who struck the ball cleanly but straight at Onana.