Liverpool vs Manchester United Review
After a tumultuous holiday period, Manchester United delivered a strong performance to secure a point against Premier League leaders Liverpool in a 2-2 draw. United had faced difficulties in their recent trips to Anfield, with their eight away league games without a win there marking their longest streak since 1979.
Ruben Amorim would have been pleased with his team’s start in what was a fairly balanced match. As anticipated, Liverpool created more opportunities, but the Red Devils controlled much of the ball in the first half hour, generating some chances of their own. One notable moment saw Diogo Dalot find Amad Diallo unmarked in the box, but the forward was unable to direct his header on target.
The home team appeared threatening throughout the first half but struggled to finish effectively in attacking situations. Luis Díaz missed a chance by shooting high and wide from inside the box, and André Onana saved a shot from Alexis Mac Allister. Amorim’s squad gradually found their rhythm and looked composed at times. The Portuguese coach would have been frustrated that his team didn’t take the lead into halftime after Rasmus Højlund broke through on goal, but Alisson managed to block the Danish striker’s attempt.
After the break, United maintained their strong performance, particularly posing a threat down Liverpool’s right side. The visitors celebrated in the 52nd minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass was intercepted by Lisandro Martinez, who then teamed up with Bruno Fernandes to score from a tight angle, marking Manchester United’s first goal at Anfield in six years. However, their lead was short-lived as Cody Gakpo was set up by Mac Allister, and the Dutchman skillfully cut inside Matthijs de Ligt before finding the far corner of the net.
United’s efforts were undone after the 60-minute mark when De Ligt was penalized for a handball in the box, allowing Mohamed Salah to score from the penalty spot, even though Onana managed to get a hand on it. Amorim brought on Alejandro Garnacho after falling behind, and the Argentine quickly made an impact by racing down the left side and delivering a ball into the box, which Diallo converted. Both teams sought a winning goal, leading to a frantic back-and-forth match with opportunities for both sides.
Both goalkeepers were kept busy, but ultimately, neither team could secure a third goal, resulting in a second consecutive league draw at Anfield. This was a disappointing outcome for the Reds after their comeback, but they maintained their lead over Arsenal as they headed into 2025. On a more positive note, Liverpool can take satisfaction in the fact that they have only lost once to the Red Devils in their last 14 league encounters.
