It’s a game that nearly didn’t kick off, but we’re oh-so-glad it did as Manchester United and Liverpool engaged in a wild 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday after Mother Nature dropped snow on Merseyside to threaten the fixture.
Lisandro Martinez put Man United ahead only to see the Premier League-leading hosts go in front through Cody Gakpo and a Mohamed Salah penalty.
MORE: Player ratings | 3 things learned | Amorim reaction | Slot reaction
But Amad Diallo now has a huge goal against Man United’s two biggest rivals after slotting Ruben Amorim’s side level late, and both sides threatened through seven minutes stoppage time before sharing the points.
Liverpool increase their table lead over second-place Arsenal to six points, and the Reds have a match-in-hand on the Gunners. Man United go 13th with 23 points, above West Ham on goal differential.
Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Amorim deliver and don’t sugarcoat emotions
Manchester United’s two biggest personalities — coach and captain — were left fuming because of how well the Red Devils played at Anfield against the best team in the Premier League. Why? Because now they know this sort of intense effort is within this team, and it certainly had not been in previous losses.
“I have to calm down and say the right things,” Amorim said. “We are in a difficult moment but it’s hard not to get mad. ... Sometimes it’s like that. Everybody’s angry with my players and I have to do the opposite. Today everyone’s going to say the lads did everything right and I’m allowed to be upset.”
Fernandes said something similar even before Amorim took the microphone.
“I’m upset because if we showed this today against Liverpool at Anfield, the highest-performing team in the league, then why can’t we do this every week? We need to be aware that we need much more from ourselves. We need to put pride up.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot essentially said the same thing, noting how well Man United has performed in cup finals and against Man City. Passive aggressive? Sure, but he’s not wrong. The Red Devils need to learn how to replicate their best efforts, and quickly.
What’s next?
Man United go to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round at 10am ET Sunday, then host Southampton in the Premier League on January 16 (Thursday).
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30 am ET Sunday (January 5)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Liverpool vs Manchester United final score: 2-2
Lisandro Martinez 52', Cody Gakpo 59', Mohamed Salah pen 70', Amad Diallo 80'
Liverpool vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
What a miss!
Zirkzee cues up Harry Maguire for a point-blank, 12-yard shot to win it.
He blazes over!
Subs
Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley enter for Cody Gakpo and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
United have made subs around those Liverpool moves, De Ligt and Hojlund exiting for Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee.
2-2, 88'.
Amad Diallo goal! Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United (80th minute)
Level again!
It’s so poor from Liverpool, as Fernandes sends Garnacho into the left corner rather innocuously.
Liverpool’s backs don’t have many players to worry about, but one is Amad Diallo and no one picks him up.
It’s a calm-enough low finish for Diallo, but the celebration is raucous.
Man Utd sub
Alejandro Garnacho is Amorim’s first move, entering the game for Mainoo in the 72nd minute.
Liverpool penalty - Mohamed Salah goal — Liverpool 2-1 Man Utd (70th minute)
VAR is asking to look at Jota’s header into the raised arm of De Ligt.
It’s a penalty.
Mo Salah steps up. Andre Onana guesses correctly and it does not matter.
Yellow to De Ligt
Fresh into the game along with Diogo Jota for Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez leads a counter attack and nutmegs Diogo Dalot.
De Ligt is next to the forward, and pulls him by the shoulder to negate the attack and earn a caution from Michael Oliver.
Cody Gakpo goal! Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd (59th minute)
A sensational answer from the Premier League leaders, and it’s survived VAR scrutiny.
Ugarte’s long clearance is settled quickly by the Reds, who get the ball to Cody Gakpo on the left.
Gakpo puts De Ligt on the ground and sends an arrow across goal, beating Onana and leveling the score line.
Lisandro Martinez goal!! Liverpool 0-1 Man Utd (52nd minute)
What.
A.
Hit.
Lisandro Martinez steals a wayward Alexander-Arnold clearance and gets the ball to Bruno Fernandes atop the 18.
The Man Utd captain dribbles a bit before slipping a pretty reverse pass to Martinez.
He has a lot to do, and does it, ripping an absolute rocket through Alisson.
United fortunate with dangerous Liverpool corner
Andre Onana is stopped from having a claim to a near-post corner from Liverpool.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, none of the home options turn the ball on goal and Onana is able to reach over a back to punch the ball.
Mo Salah fouls a Red Devil defender in the box to end the threat.
0-0, 50'.
No changes at the break
We start as we ended the first half, scoreless at Anfield.
Halftime — Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
That was a finishless but fun half of football, especially if you’re in the camp that expected very little of Man United.
This match is missing the fire of Dominik Szoboszlai, to be sure, and we’d expect a tactical tweak or two from Arne Slot in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz are off their games, while Man United could use better from Hojlund.
Noussair Mazraoui has been good for United, while Van Dijk and Konate look solid for the hosts.
Shots are 8-6 for the hosts, who’ve held 56% of the ball.
All to play for! We’ll take it.
Manchester United threaten thrice!
Bruno Fernandes tries to cue up a goal from the left but Virgil van Dijk sends it out for a throw.
Fernandes soon tries again from the same side, this time denied by Van Dijk’s noggin.
Now Rasmus Hojlund is sent into the box, and Alisson has to stand firm to save the Dane.
0-0, 43'.
Gravenberch from distance!
Mainoo’s been beaten again, and he hasn’t looked right since the early boot to the head.
Gravenberch tries his luck from 25 yards but it’s not the best other than power.
0-0, 31'.
Man Utd almost open the scoring
Diogo Dalot leads a break down the left side as Man United seek to start the goal against the run of play.
Dalot’s cross for Amad Diallo is hit early and hard, but it’s spinning away from the forward who cannot get it near frame.
The ball falls for Rasmus Hojlund, whose half-chance is blocked out for a corner kick.
Trent Alexander-Arnold leads a counter off a substandard corner, but Matthijs de Ligt does very well to draw a foul off the Liverpool right back.
0-0, 23'.
Big save by Andre Onana
Mac Allister loses Mainoo and none of the United back spy him either.
The Argentine is denied by a good Andre Onana save, and Liverpool can’t do much with the ensuing corner.
0-0, 17'.
Liverpool finding openings with cutting passes
Gravenberch sends Gakpo into the box.
Gakpo clips the ball over Andre Onana but it drifts wide of the far post.
The flag is up but replays showed he would’ve been proven on. Very close.
Decent start for the underdogs
United showing some fight and organization, and Manuel Ugarte bites into a challenge on Cody Gakpo that has Anfield howling for a card.
0-0, 13'.
Kobbie Mainoo injury
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo slides for the ball and Ryan Gravenberch has to leap over the midfielder.
Gravenberch’s boot catches the side of the prone Mainoo’s head, and he’s going to need some treatment in the second minute.
Team news favors Liverpool
Yes, this looks like Man United’s best lineup and a midfield that can deal with Liverpool’s top group but...
Ibrahima Konate being fit to start just makes Liverpool so much more imposing at the back against a Red Devils team who has struggled to generate danger.
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Robertson, Konate, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Mazraoui, Martinez, Maguire, De Ligt, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Hojlund
Liverpool vs Manchester United preview — By Andy Edwards
Liverpool will be desperately hoping that the fixture does go ahead, as they are in red-hot form at the moment — winners of three straight with 14 goals scored, and unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League games (11W-3D-0L). Mohamed Salah scored or assisted more than half of those 14 goals — four for him, four for his teammates — and is well on his way to his best season for Liverpool, at the age of 32 and in the final year of his contract. Salah had 32 goals, 10 assists in his debut season back in 2017-18 (his most goal contributions thus far). With 17 goals, 13 assists in 18 games already this season, he should hit 43 sometime around mid-to-late February.
MORE — Liverpool vs Manchester United predicted lineups
You know who might not want Sunday’s derby to go ahead? The side that has lost five of six games, hasn’t scored a goal in three games, and has a brand new manager in Ruben Amorim who has quickly realized that somehow this job is even harder than he could have imagined while considering whether to leave Sporting Lisbon. The Red Devils are closer to the relegation zone (7 points) than the top-6 (9 points). Man United are currently on pace for 44 points this season. Liverpool already have 45 points… in one fewer game.
Liverpool team news
OUT: Joe Gomez (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Ibrahima Konate (knee), Conor Bradley (hamstring)
Manchester United team news
OUT: Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Victor Lindelof (unspecified) | QUESTIONABLE: Marcus Rashford (illness)
Liverpool vs Manchester United prediction
If the game is played, weather conditions will significantly affect the way the game is played and there’s no one who’s back United to outwork and outfight Liverpool right now. Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United.
