Amad Diallo’s late goal earned Manchester United a deserved point as they defied recent form to draw 2-2 against leaders Liverpool in a thriller at Anfield.
Lisandro Martinez had blasted United into a second-half lead but Cody Gakpo’s leveller was followed by a Mohamed Salah penalty that briefly looked to have earned the victory that would have sent Arne Slot’s side eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
But Amad swept home to the delight of the away supporters and secured a result that offers some encouragement to Ruben Amorim and moves his United side above West Ham into 13th.
Harry Maguire could even have won it for the visitors in the final seconds but skied his effort over the crossbar.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Harry Maguire misses a huge chance for Man Utd to beat Liverpool when he fired over the bar
Trent has game to forget
Liverpool are still six points clear with a game in hand on Arsenal but this was an unconvincing effort to kick off 2025, one full of errors.
“It will feel like an opportunity lost for Liverpool,” said Jamie Carragher on co-commentary for Sky Sports.
The returning Ibrahima Konate endured a difficult afternoon but that was nothing compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool right-back was culpable for United’s opener, losing possession and his man, but that was just one element of an alarming performance. Alexander-Arnold’s distribution was uncharacteristically dismal, his defending a problem throughout.
Booked late on, he was hooked in favour of Conor Bradley who did more during his brief stint than Alexander-Arnold, a transfer target for Real Madrid, had mustered all match. “Trent is not at the races,” said Carragher.
Man Utd’s best under Amorim?
Amorim had pointed to the preparation time that United had enjoyed after a hectic festive period. “We have had more time to train, two days in a row. I think that can help us.” That showed in how organised his United team looked from the outset.
Everton were beaten 4-0 at Old Trafford but this was better as United succeeded in frustrating Liverpool, preventing them from building momentum early on. Luis Diaz fired over and Alexis Mac Allister saw a first-time shot saved by Andre Onana, but that was it.
United had moments before their goals. Amad got his header wrong after Diogo Dalot got in behind, while Rasmus Hojlund had a shot saved by Alisson on the angle. Even the second Liverpool goal was unfortunate, a handball call against Matthijs de Ligt.
They could even have won it and it would hardly have been unjust. Joshua Zirkzee was in behind down the right channel, opting to square the ball to Maguire, but the pass was a bobbling one that the burly centre-back contrived to blaze over Alisson’s crossbar.
