Manchester United and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield in a game that featured four second half goals.
While United were the better side in the first half, they had nothing to show for it until after the break when Lisandro Martinez netting a stunning strike to give Ruben Amorim’s side the lead on 52 minutes. However, Liverpool fought back immediately through Cody Gakpo, who scored a stunning strike of his own to equalise for the Reds, before Matthijs de Ligt gave away a penalty with a handball, with Mohamed Salah converting the spot-kick.
At 2-1 to Liverpool, it looked as though the Reds were about to run rampant, but they found themselves pegged back by Amad Diallo, who scored United’s second to set up a stunning finish at Anfield.
Both sides had chances to win the game late on, but in the end the points were shared. And here is what United boss Amorim will have learnt from the drama filled clash at Anfield…
Amad Diallo to the rescue
Once again, in a big game, Amad Diallo was United’s saviour. The Ivorian netted the dramatic winner against Manchester City back in December to secure a derby day win for United, and has been enjoying more minutes in the starting XI under Amorim compared to when Erik ten Hag was in charge.
And against Liverpool, it was Diallo who netted United’s equaliser. The United star swept home a wonderful cross from Alejandro Garnacho to level proceedings at Anfield, in a game that looked to be dead and buried at 2-1 with how confident Liverpool looked.
It raises the question; just what was Ten Hag’s reason for not playing Diallo when he was in charge?
Rasmus Hojlund doesn’t look like the answer
United spent £64million on bringing in Rasmus Hojlund back in 2023 to Old Trafford, and it’s safe to say right now the decision to do so was a horrifically misjudged one by the club.
The Danish striker show signs of promise by getting into good positions, but when it comes to actually taking his chances, Hojlund can’t take them. Against Liverpool, he had a fantastic chance to put United 1-0 up but saw his chance saved by Alisson. At no point did you have the confidence in Hojlund that he’d score, which really speaks volumes that United paid so much money for the 21-year-old.
Yes, Hojlund is young and has plenty of room to develop into a top class forward. But for the money they paid, he has been a disappointment for United.
Signs of life
United were abject in their previous three games against Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle United, so you could forgive people for thinking they were going to be dismantled at Anfield by the favourites to win the Premier League this season.
However, United were the better team in the first half and deservedly took the lead on 52 minutes thanks to a stunning strike from Lisandro Martinez. While they were unable to hold on to the lead for long after Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool, it was a promising display from Amorim’s side up until then.
They showed fight and grit, with tackles flying in from Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte – but ultimately lacked the quality to take their chances, with Liverpool taking the lead through a Mohamed Salah penalty. And then when they went 2-1 down, they fought back to make it 2-2 through Amad Diallo. However, speaking of that penalty…
A nightmare afternoon for Matthijs de Ligt
The Dutchman was sent by compatriot Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s equaliser, with de Ligt sliding off the pitch at Anfield as the Reds forward blasted home past Andre Onana.
And then moments later, it was De Ligt who gave away a handball penalty to give Liverpool the chance to take the lead, with the spot-kick converted by Mohamed Salah. Like Hojlund, United payed a lot of money for De Ligt to sign him from Bayern Munich, and on the evidence of his time at Old Trafford so far, the Dutchman has been a disappointment.
Part of the problem United have right now is the players they have paid so much money for over the course of the recent transfer windows are simply not performing up to their price tag.