Why Manchester United’s hard fought draw against Liverpool feels more like a win | Football News
“I’m pretty upset because if we showed this today against Liverpool, why can’t we do this every week?” Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said after grinding out an impressive 2-2 draw with league leaders Liverpool on their own turf, echoing the sentiments of every Red Devils fan around the world.This was the same outfit which had given up timidly in front of a buoyant Newcastle United side last Monday, albeit without Fernandes and midfield tank Manuel Ugarte. But just 6 days after that embarrassing defeat to end 2024, the new year saw a new United. How long that lasts remains to be seen.
After taking charge at United in November, manager Ruben Amorim had warned of a coming storm. On Sunday, as the fans turned up to Anfield for the match which initially faced cancellation due to adverse weather conditions, United brought the thunder.
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, right, scores his side’s 2nd goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
A far cry from the ‘anxious’ side which lost 2-0 at home to the magpies, United looked like a proper team, rather than a bunch of talented individuals. Pressing with all their might, Amorim’s style of play was visible with favourites Liverpool struggling to keep their arch-rivals at bay.
Even as the hosts created chances, United would not just sit back and defend as was expected of them during the days of Erik Ten Hag. Fernandes in particular looked like a player reborn as his creativity gave United the spark it was missing for so long.
Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, well aware of Trent Alexander Arnold’s defensive frailties, concentrated most of their attacks through the left side. Arnold, who has been linked with a huge move to Real Madrid, would hope his potential buyers skipped Sunday’s match as he dropped one of his most uninspired performances of the season. Roy Keane even went as far as to say Trent’s form in this match would see him not at Real but at Tranmere Rovers
The first goal for United came at the 52nd minute when he failed to keep up with a Dalot run which ultimately resulted in a later move where defender Lisandro Martinez gave Arnold the slip and scored from an acute angle. Liverpool’s response was swift with Cody Gakpo equalizing in the 59th minute before talisman Mohamed Salah continued his blering form firing the hosts into a 2-1 lead from a penalty in the 70th minute.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in action. (Reuters)
Typically, in these situations in the past, United players would have let their shoulders slump as the fans prepared for another defeat. But not under Amorim’s watch. This was a different monster, at least for the night, as Fernandes released substitute Alejandro Garnacho who got the better of Arnold and fizzed in a cross for Amad Diallo to level the score.
In Ten Hag’s time in charge, United fans would be accustomed to see the team then playing in their own half in order to secure the draw. Most of the time, that defensive mindset would cost United as teams with high press would inevitably get the ball and go on to score and win the match in the dying embers.
In Anfield though, Amorim’s United completely flipped that script as they refused to sit on their laurels after equalizing. With both sides going for the kill in the fag end of the match, chances were squandered. But the biggest of misses for United came from an unlikely source.
Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool. (AP)
With Liverpool cut open in the last minute of the 7 added minutes of the match, Joshua Zirkzee found himself bearing on the opposition’s goal but instead of shooting, he squared the ball to Harry Maguire. The central defender had the goalkeeper Alisson Becker at his mercy but he slammed the ball over the bar as the Merseyside crowd heaved a sigh of relief.
Why Zirkzee, a striker himself, didn’t go for the shot will remain a mystery but these are the issues Amorim will need to fix as his tenure wears on. Discounting that brain fade moment, United’s draw in this match will feel more like a victory, with an assured performance which even eclipsed their smash and grab win against Manchester City last year.
Here, United felt more like a well-oiled unit, responding to Amorim’s tactics, something that will bode well for the future as the manager brings in more players that suit his style.
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