Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd: Match report & talking points from breathless draw | OneFootball

Manchester United were vastly improved at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as they earned a 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

United headed into the game off the back of a four-game losing streak and closer to the drop zone than the European places, but they were brilliant here and more than good value for their point.

Liverpool struggled through the contest and will doubtlessly feel as if this was an opportunity missed after Arsenal drew at Brighton on Saturday, but their advantage at the summit is still a healthy six points having played a game less than their rivals.

How the game unfolded

Anfield was coated in snow prior to kick-off / Carl Recine/GettyImages

The filthy Anfield conditions shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise given that postponement was considered on Sunday morning. An almighty rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' warmed Scouse spirits on a miserable Merseyside afternoon, but a competent United display in the opening 45 minutes initially brought about a sense of pathetic fallacy among the home crowd.

The issues which were so distinct against Newcastle were alleviated by Ruben Amorim opting for a youthful and dynamic midfield pivot, and although the proactivity of United's centre-halves presented alternate issues, their aggression was undoubtedly a net positive throughout.

Liverpool were made to work against a stubborn United block which surrendered space between the lines only on occasion. Slick interplay was required for penetration, and the Reds did come close to making the breakthrough via Cody Gakpo.

The Dutchman's chance arrived amid a succession of shots of the home side, but United didn't let Liverpool build any momentum in the first-half, and it was the visitors who wouldn't have wanted the half-time whistle to arrive.

Their combination play was efficient, allowing them to escape Liverpool's vaunted counter-press, and they had plenty of joy when targeting the Reds' right-hand side. After Amad Diallo miscued a header to give United the lead, Alisson expertly denied Rasmus Hojlund one-on-one.

Arne Slot has been no stranger to lifting his side at the break, and an upsurge was required from the visitors against their great historical rivals. Their task was made harder just a few minutes after the restart as Lisandro Martinez crashed home a deserved opening goal for Amorim's side - their first at Anfield for more than six years.

It then looked as if United would build on their opener, but Liverpool's first venture forward after falling behind resulted in the equaliser. Cody Gakpo is a man in form, and his finish was that of a forward boasting the utmost confidence in front of goal. Matthijs de Ligt was responsible for allowing Gakpo the space to shoot after diving in, and the Dutch defender was the defensive protagonist again as Liverpool took the lead.

De Ligt was penalised for handling in the box following VAR intervention, and Mohamed Salah was on hand to haunt the Red Devils again as he scored from the spot.

Some may have expected the Reds to finally seize control and walk away with the contest, but United refused to go away and quickly restored a foothold before levelling the scores through Amad Diallo. Amorim's side once again got in behind down Liverpool's right and Amad was on hand to convert Alejandro Garnacho's cross first time.

The equaliser set-up an utterly enthralling conclusion with both teams spurning gilt-edge chances to win a vintage game of Premier League football. After Virgil van Dijk headed straight at Andre Onana, United broke at the last but Joshua Zirkzee's cross fell at the feet of Harry Maguire, who predictably blazed over.

Check out Liverpool vs Man Utd player ratings here.

Alexander-Arnold's nightmare

United had plenty of joy down Liverpool's right / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages

Trent Alexander-Arnold will hope Florentino Perez was enjoying an afternoon nap on Sunday. There's been plenty of talk of the right-back moving to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, but the Englishman was more Jonathan Woodgate than David Beckham against the Red Devils.

By the end of the first-half, almost 60% of United's attacks were focussed down Liverpool's right.

Alexander-Arnold's nonchalance veered into indifference at times, with Diogo Dalot persistently getting in behind the Englishman. The right-back has, for the most part, defended well this term amid an excellent campaign, but this performance was a reversion to the old stereotype. His work with the ball was lackadaisical, too.

He perhaps wasn't aided by a rusty Ibrahima Konate, who struggled to defend the channel with his usual vigour upon his return to the team. Nevertheless, a player of apparent Real Madrid calibre has to take ownership of his flank, but United ran amok when Alexander-Arnold was the target.

Booked and hooked to end a miserable afternoon.

United benefit from week off

Ruben Amorim had close to a full week on the training pitch with his players / Carl Recine/GettyImages

Okay, United didn't have a full week off, but this was their largest interval between games since Amorim took over.

The Red Devils undoubtedly benefitted. Their plans were clear in and out of possession, with the improvement from Newcastle on Monday night stark. Amorim identified the hesitancy of his centre-backs when jumping into midfield as a key issue from last time out, with all three making a concerted effort to shun Liverpool between the lines here. Trouble only arose when the Reds' crafty trio drifted off the shoulder of United's pivot.

Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo were disciplined for the most part while offering serenity in possession, but their positional discipline was tested relentlessly and there were a couple of lapses. That's to be expected against a juggernaut of an opponent who are ever so good at pulling defensive structures apart. Bruno Fernandes slotted in ably after Mainoo was withdrawn, and the United skipper was arguably the best player on the pitch in the second half.

It wasn't perfect, but Amorim, who described his players as 'too afraid' to perform in the build-up to Sunday's game, will take great satisfaction from his work on the training pitch. His team were more than merely competent at Anfield. They could've easily walked away with all three points.

Magnificent Mac Allister

The Argentine pulled the strings masterfully at Anfield / Carl Recine/GettyImages

Liverpool certainly didn't have it all their own way against an improved Red Devils, but one man who always seemed in control was Mac Allister.

The Argentine role's under Slot is more fluid than it was under Jurgen Klopp, with the German asking Mac Allister to mitigate Liverpool's holding midfield woes during his swansong campaign. Ryan Gravenberch's emergence has handed Mac Allister greater freedom, with the former Brighton man taking on an all-encompassing function.

Not only is he tasked with supporting Gravenberch in the build-up, but he's asked to make runs off the shoulders of opposing midfielders and offer a reference point between the lines. We saw the best of his space interpretation here, with Mac Allister testing Andre Onana after meeting Salah's deft pass in behind.

The midfielder's subtle but masterful work with the ball was matched by his bittiness without it, and while his teammates struggled to reach their imperious levels on home soil, Mac Allister refused to flinch. He had a hand in both goals, too.