New Delhi: What an absolutely thrilling end to a contest, which is considered to be one of the biggest rivalries of English football, as Anfield were silenced tonight by the visiting Manchester United team. Even before the match, Liverpool were the clear favourites to win the tie and to be fair, they were certainly the better team out of the two from the very beginning of the match. United’s timid approach wa clearly evident from the very first minute of the game, as they were playing in a rather deep line into their own half, probably to resort any sort of counter attack from the home side.
However, after surviving the first ten miniutes of the game, Ryan Gravenberch slid in Cody Gakpo as Liverpool opened the United defence for the first time, but the forward was only able to flick wide of the right post due to pressure from the approaching Andre Onana. Just moments later, Onana was tested for the first time as he made a big save when Mac Allister took the opening shot after Mohamed Salah dinked in a wonderful ball into the box. However, Onana was there to make a crucial stop with his feet to keep the score deadlocked.
A rare glorious chance went begging for United when Dalot managed to pick out Amad Diallo, who was approaching the Liverpool goal but he just couldn’t direct his header, rather he just headed it backwards causing no threat for Alisson. United finally managed to test the Liverpool keeper late into the first half, when the Brazilian did a fantastic job of closing the angle of Rasmus Hojlund’s shot, before making the save to keep Liverpool in it. That was all for the first half as it remained deadlocked.
An insane second half at Anfield
A thriller at Anfield ends level between Liverpool and Man Utd 😅#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/CQJK5W2HKn
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
There was drama from the starting of the second half as it didn’t take Manchester United much long to take a shock lead in the 52nd minute of the game Lisandro Martinez won the ball and eventually took Bruno Fernandes’ deft throughball. The Argentine defender became the unlikely scorer, as he maintained his cool and looked nothing like a center-back when he thundered home after smashing in off the crossbar to give United a 1-0 lead.
However, just moments after the opener, Liverpool managed to find the leveller when Cody Gakpo scored a wonderful goal after he was found by Mac Allister upfront. He then cut in to beat De Ligt and find the top right corner of the goal with a fantastic finish to make it 1-1. This was the first time that Gakpo had scored in three successive games in the Premier League. The drama only intensified when there were shouts of penalty after Alexander-Arnold’s cross was headed by Mac Allister. However, while the pass was made, the ball hit De Ligt’s arm which had be checked by VAR if it was raised. After a long check, Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and Liverpool were handed a penalty.
Then came the time that every United fan was haunting every United fan. It was Mo Salah who scored the penalty which was his 13th goal against United that also marked his 19th goal involvement against them. However, it was Unitd’s turn to respond and the visitors did not sit back as Amad Diallo scored united’s second in the 80th minute to put them on level terms as the super-sub Alejandro Garnacho provided the assist to head United back on level terms.
The final moments also produced some chances for both the sides when Diogo Jota tested the palms of Onana and then as the ball fell to Conor Bradley, his drive was also put away for a corner by the United keeper. Then on the other end of the pitch, United could have won it in the dying moments. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee squared the ball for Harry Maguire in acres of room in the box after United’s initial free-kick was cleared but it returned. Despite having plenty of time, the United center-back chose not to touch, and with the goal gaping, he could only scoop over the crossbar which denied United an incredible win.
Player of the match: Amad Diallo
Amad equalises for @ManUtd 😱#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/si81UHBjPH
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 5, 2025
It’s safe to assume that Amorim needed a dramatic outcome at the end of a week that started when the United manager acknowledged that relegation was a possibility following his team’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United at Old Trafford. Midway through the first half, Amad made one such mistake when he was discovered unmarked at the back post, putting an ungainly header away from goal. A raher awkward moment for the youngster as it could have given United a much needed early boost.
The 22-year-old, who has so far been the most impressive player of the Amorim era, persevered and created the moment of the game in the 80th minute by slipping past his marker to sweep Garnacho’s cross home. He managed to redeem himself after scoring that goal that took his tally to three goals and overall nine goal contributions for the season.
Manchester United snatched a dramatic late equaliser at Anfield as Amad Diallo scored in the final few moments to secure a 2-2 draw against Liverpool. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
