In a dramatic clash at Anfield, Manchester United salvaged a 2-2 draw against Liverpool, marking a rare moment of redemption for the beleaguered team. The game was filled with tension, with United showing resilience despite their ongoing struggles. The late drama unfolded when Joshua Zirkzee, who had been jeered off at Old Trafford just days before, had the chance to score in the dying moments. Instead, he passed to Harry Maguire, who wasted the opportunity by sending the ball into Row Z of the Anfield Road Stand. The miss capped a frustrating night for United, who have now gone nine years without a win at Liverpool.
Despite this, United’s performance offered a glimmer of hope for their manager, Ruben Amorim. While Liverpool maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, they were unable to capitalize on United’s vulnerabilities. The home side’s frustration grew as they failed to break down a well-organized United defense. Amorim made key changes to his midfield, dropping Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to the bench in favor of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo. This tactical switch allowed United to maintain a compact shape, frustrating Liverpool’s attacking flow.
The match started with both teams creating chances in challenging conditions. The pitch was soaked after heavy rain, but Liverpool adapted well, with Luis Díaz, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo linking up to test United’s defense. Gakpo had a chance to score early, but his chip went wide of André Onana’s goal. Moments later, Mohamed Salah’s pass to Alexis Mac Allister was expertly blocked by Onana, as Liverpool’s pressure grew.
United, however, responded with attacking intent of their own. Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, and Rasmus Højlund found space on the left side, exploiting the weak link in Liverpool’s defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Amad Diallo had a golden opportunity to give United the lead when Dalot’s cross found him unmarked in the six-yard box. Unfortunately, Diallo’s header was poorly directed, and he was caught by a knee from Alisson in the process.
The first half ended with United still holding strong, despite Liverpool’s dominance. In the second half, United stunned Anfield by taking the lead in the 52nd minute. Lisandro Martínez intercepted a clearance from Alexander-Arnold and passed to Fernandes, who returned the ball to Martínez for a thunderous strike into the top corner, leaving Alisson with no chance.
However, Liverpool responded swiftly. Gakpo equalized seven minutes later with a superb shot from a tight angle after taking advantage of a mistake by Matthijs De Ligt. The game then turned when VAR intervened after De Ligt’s arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position during a header from Mac Allister. Salah converted the resulting penalty, giving Liverpool the lead.
Despite the setback, United refused to give in. Fernandes played in substitute Alejandro Garnacho, whose low cross found Diallo, who squeezed the ball past Alisson to level the score at 2-2. The final minutes saw both teams pushing for a winner. Fernandes nearly caught Alisson off guard at his near post, while Diogo Jota and Virgil van Dijk had opportunities to secure a victory for Liverpool, but both were thwarted by Onana.
The draw, while not the win United had hoped for, showed signs of improvement in their performance. Amorim’s side demonstrated defensive discipline and attacking intent, and although they were unable to break their Anfield hoodoo, the result provided a much-needed morale boost.
