Liverpool squandered their chance to return to the top of the Premier League with a thrilling draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Why couldn't manager Jurgen Klopp and his players avenge last month's FA Cup quarter-final defeat here, in which they dominated the hosts for too long and paid the price for so many missed chances? You must be wondering.
Liverpool showed almost total dominance in the first half with only Luis Diaz's goal, conceding 15 shots against United, but manager Erik ten Hag criticized the visitors' wastefulness and keeper Andre's goal. I was grateful for Onana's save.
Almost unbelievably, United were given a lifeline five minutes after the break. Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah played a straight pass to Bruno Fernandes, who finished past keeper Caoihin Kelleher, who was stuck inside the center circle.
Koby Mainu then took the lead in the 67th minute with a superb curling finish at the Stretford End for his first home goal.
But Liverpool had a minimal draw with Mohamed Salah converting a penalty with six minutes left after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's second-half charge through Harvey Elliott.
Liverpool currently sit in second place behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference, with Manchester City a further point behind in third place.
United show a contrasting side
Manchester United would have baffled and delighted fans in equal measure after a performance of the sharpest contrast, winning a point that looked far beyond them in the first 45 minutes.
The only consolation from a poor first half was that Liverpool were never far over the hill after breaking through the home defense at will.
With Liverpool camped in United's half, Dominik Szoboszlai was denied by a superb save from Onana and the Hungarian midfielder missed two other good chances. Diaz's goal in the 23rd minute – coolly scored after being free in the box – was hardly rewarded.
The half-time whistle brought a sense of relief to the Old Trafford home side, but United, for all their faults, took advantage of their chances, just as they had in their torrid 4-3 FA Cup success. It has been shown that it remains a threat if we do not do so.
And Quansah's mistake was the catalyst when Fernandes pounced on a poor backpass, found Kelleher from off his line and finished brilliantly.
Mainu also produced a special finish, but Wan-Bissaka's reckless challenge on Elliott prevented United from celebrating another memorable victory against Liverpool.
The result was so mixed that it gave no clue as to whether Ten Hag, under pressure, was on the right track, but United's consolation was their 20th top-flight title. This was a blow to Liverpool as they aim to achieve this goal. their own tally.
Will Liverpool regret wasting money?
Liverpool will know better than anyone that this is a huge missed opportunity to reassert their authority in the title race.
A win would have put Klopp's side ahead of Arsenal, but they had to settle for a draw after taking 28 shots and missing enough chances to win in several games. He got it with Salah's late spot-kick.
And it was the self-inflicted injury from centre-back Quansah's mistake that got United back on their feet and changed the course of the game.
Liverpool, who had produced so many goals for United in the first half and scored many times in the second half, were strangely slow in attack.
Salah missed several chances, but showed composure under the pressure of scoring in four games in a row against United for the first time.
Klopp looked excited and animated for much of the match, almost unable to believe how Liverpool had engineered a position that could even see them leave Old Trafford empty-handed.
Sure, it was great to get the point, but the Reds will be very unhappy with the way they tried to hand control of the title back to Arsenal.
player of match
Mac Allisteralexis mac allister
lineup
Manchester United
formation 4-2-3-1
- twenty fourOnanaI made a reservation for 80 minutes.
- 20Dalot
- 53KambwalaBooked in 74 minutes
- FiveMaguire
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 18CasemiroI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 37MainuReplacementmountin 84 minutesminutesI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 17GarnachoReplacementSouth Amrabatin 79 minutesminutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- TenrashfordReplacementanthonyin 66 minutesminutesI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 11Hoylund
substitute
- 1bindil
- FourSouth Amrabat
- 7mount
- 14Eriksen
- 16Diallo
- twenty oneanthony
- 62Forson
- 70collect
- 75Ogany
liverpool
formation 4-3-3
- 62Kelleher
- 84BradleyBooked in 7 minutesReplacementgomezin 66 minutesminutes
- 78Quansar
- Fourvan dijk
- 26robertson
- 8SoboszlaiReplacementjonesin 66 minutesminutesBooked in 89 minutes
- 3EndoReplacementElliotin 69 minutesminutes
- TenMac Allister
- 11Salah
- 9NuñezReplacementGakpoin 68 minutesminutes
- 7Diaz
substitute
- 2gomez
- FiveKonate
- 13Adrian
- 17jones
- 18Gakpo
- 19Elliot
- twenty oneTsimikas
- 38graben birch
- 76Dan's
live text
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Game over, Manchester United 2, Liverpool 2.
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End of the second half, Manchester United 2, Liverpool 2.
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Attempt saved. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) took a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal.
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Casemiro (Manchester United) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Luis Diaz (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left.
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Foul by Casemiro (Manchester United).
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Attempt saved. Anthony (Manchester United) took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal. Supported by Rasmus Hoylund.
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Curtis Jones (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Sofian Amrabat (Manchester United).
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Anthony (Manchester United) was shown a yellow card.
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Attempt failed. Luis Diaz (Liverpool) fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box that was a little too high. Assisted by Andy Robertson with a headed pass.
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Mason Mount (Manchester United) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Codi Gakpo (Liverpool) wins a free kick in defence.
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Foul by Mason Mount (Manchester United).
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Foul on Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
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Harry Maguire (Manchester United) wins a free kick in defence.
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Corner, Liverpool. Bruno Fernandes concedes a goal.
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Curtis Jones (Liverpool) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Foul by Curtis Jones (Liverpool).
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Sofian Amrabat (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.