LIVERPOOL 2, MAN UTD 2
Struggling Manchester United defied the odds and form book to gain a surprise draw at runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool.
After their recent run if dismal defeats, many forecast they would we sacrificial lambs to the slaughter at Anfield where Liverpool would have gone eight points clear with victory and with a game in hand.
But just as they did in pulling off a shock win in the Manchester derby at the Etihad and getting a goalless draw against the odds at Liverpool last season, United did so again.
In a pulsating second half, United shocked Liverpool by snatching an early lead through Lisandro Martinez.
Liverpool responded, as they do on home territory, with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah to seemingly complete the comeback.
United, who bookmakers had given odds of 13/2 to win, refused to lie down and die as Amad Diallo conjured an 82nd minute equaliser.
Then in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time, Harry Maguire blazed over from 10 yards when he looked certain to score a dramatic winner as United climbed one place to 13th and remain seven points clear of the relegation places.
United head coach Ruben Amorim pinpointed the improved mentality of his players as being the key.
He said: “We were different today, not technically or tactically but in our mentality which was different.
“In training and in matches – it doesn’t matter who the opponents are – we need to chase like that.
“I try to push this team every day and challenge my players. Everyone was too comfortable and needed a shock.
Embed from Getty Images“Today we were a different team. I am pleased with the performance and we played as a team.
“It was all about focus – focus on set-pieces, our passing was sloppy as at the other end of the pitch they had Salah and [Luis] Diaz and, if we had done that, we would have suffered.
“We have had some good games in the last month and then dropped again as we did after beating City.
“We need to be consistent and in training tomorrow we need the same level of mentality.”
United captain Bruno Fernandes said: “We have been criticised and fairly. Our position in the table says it all, we have lost too many points. Even today we can’t be happy with a point. We need the points, and we could’ve won the game at the end, but it’s a fair result. Both teams played good football.
“I’m pretty upset. If we show this level at Liverpool, first in the league, why can’t we do this everywhere? It frustrates me. Also, finally I did a proper performance. We said we need much more from ourselves to get more from this season.
“Being 2-1 [down] then scoring it’s good to get a point but we need more. Now we have an FA Cup tie at Arsenal, and it is going to be very tough, but we want to get to the final again.
“We know how tough it is to play against Liverpool. Today we put in a real effort to the game, playing with some passion and heart is what is going to give you something from the game. You have to put in effort and that’s why we took something from today.
“It can’t stop here. We have to bring this frustration to the next game to understand this has to be the level. If we can do it an Anfield, we have to do it everywhere.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot described it as two points dropped.
“There was a big chance for Maguire at the end but two minutes before Virgil [van Dijk] had a big chance to make it 3-2 for us,” he explained.
Amorim strengthened his midfield with three changes as captain Bruno Fernandes returned from suspension with Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo also in the starting line-up.
Out went Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Joshua Zirkzee while there was no place in the matchday squad for the unwell Marcus Rashford.
Liverpool made one change from the 5-0 win at West Ham United with defender Ibrahima Kounate, out since late November with a knee problem, returning in place of injured Joe Gomez.
It was clear from the way United set up from the outset they were not going to roll over as many were predicting.
When defending, it was effectively 5-4-1 with Rasmus Hojlund the lone striker. But when pressing forward, it was more 3-5-1-1 with Fernandes supporting the Dane.
Liverpool had to wait almost quarter of an hour before creating their first clear-cut chance when Ryan Gravenberch released Gakpo who fired narrowly wide.
It was quickly followed by a second as a ball over the top from Salah which provided an opening for Alexis Mac Allister whose shot was saved the legs of keeper Andre Onana.
United enjoyed a spell of pressure and had several shots blocked but failed to work keeper Alisson Becker.
Gravenberch went close with a long-range drive which fizzed past the upright after he had spun Kobbie Mainoo to forge forward.
United carved out their first clear chance shortly before the break when Hojlund was released but his angled shot was well kept out by Alisson.
And United stunned the home side by snatching a 52nd minute lead after a sloppy clearance from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Martinez intercepted and ran on to Fernandes’ return ball before crashing an angled shot in off the underside of the crossbar for only his second goal in two-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford.
After failing to score on their last five visits to Liverpool, Martinez scored the first goal by United in 558 minutes at Anfield.
But the unbridled joy dissipated within seven minutes United were level through Gakpo’s 12th goal of the season.
Alexander-Arnold’s free kick was headed clear before being recycled down the left with Mac Allister feeding Gakpo who cut inside Matthijs de Ligt before smashing a shot into the top corner.
The hapless de Ligt conceded a penalty for handball. Liverpool appealed to a man, referee Michael Oliver waved play on only for VAR to intervene and send the match official to the pitchside monitor.
Salah stepped forward to smash home his 21st goal of the season and 13th in his last 11 Premier League games as Liverpool completed the turnabout in a crazy 11 minutes.
It was also Salah’s 175th Premier League goal to go joint seventh on the all-time list alongside Thierry Henry.
United made their first change with 18 minutes left as Mainoo made way for Alejandro Garnacho.
And within eight minutes Garnacho set up United’s equaliser with a low cross from the left to Amad Diallo who squeezed a low shot past Alisson for his sixth goal of the season.
United made two more late changes as de Ligt and Hojlund were replaced by Leny Yoro and Zirkzee.
Liverpool piled forward in pursuit of a winner and Onana had to be alert to keep out efforts from substitutes Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Virgil van Dijk, the latter ought to have found the net.
Was there to be one final twist? Almost as United broke forward and substitute Zirkzee squared a pass to Maguire who would probably have scored had the ball not bobbled up as he struck it.