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| Bruno Fernandes celebrates a huge goal to level matters early in the second half against Liverpool before Kobbie Mainoo and Mohammed Salah scored one each to end the game 2-2. (Photo credit: The Athletic) |
Manchester United rolled back the years to prove they’re not a spent force with a gritty display in the second half to settle for a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against Liverpool.
The Kops needed a win to stay in the pole position for the Premier League title after the duo of Manchester City and Arsenal won their respective games on Saturday; the stage was set for a Liverpool with considering United’s defensive crisis and their recent results.
Willy Kambwala was deployed alongside Harry Maguire, while Aaron Wam Bissaka was handed a left-back role to curtail the moves of Mohammed Salah with Portuguese fullback Diogo Dalot the other way, not forgetting his blunder against the Blues on Thursday.
Liverpool started the game smoking and could have gone ahead as early as the second minute when Salah set up Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian’s effort was saved by Andre Onana. The Cameroonian made a few good stops but couldn’t do anything about Luiz Diaz’s effort midway into the first half.
Liverpool would look back at their missed chances in the first half and regret what could have been as Manchester United came out for the second half with purpose. Helped by a Quansah error, Bruno Fernandes launched one from a distance over Kaihomin Kelleher, who was outside his box.
United turned the game on its head moments later when wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo curled one in from the edge of the Liverpool box to make it 2-1. It became a fight-for-life affair for the visitors from there, as a loss would send them to third on the table, having started the weekend on top.
Wam Bissaka was adjudged to have brought down Harvey Elliot in the Manchester United box; replays show there was minimal or no contact, but Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and VAR didn’t intervene; Mohammed Salah stepped up and converted to make the game 2-2.
The stalemate handed the advantage to the Gunners as they now lead the table on goal difference. The ping pong continues with only one point separating the top three. It’s a title race to savour, the closest we’ve had in over a decade.