Manchester United came up with a strong performance to take a point away from Anfield after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United needed a strong start to 2025 after ending 2024 in meek fashion.
United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United brought 2024 to a rather dismal end and Ruben Amorim’s trip to Anfield looked a little daunting.
Amorim certainly appears to have drilled his side well in recent days though as United turned in an impressive performance against Liverpool.
Lisandro Martinez rifled United in front before Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah appeared to have swung the game back in Liverpool’s favour.
United hit back though with Amad Diallo bagging the equaliser, ensuring a 2-2 draw as United head back to Manchester.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Many were backing Liverpool for a victory in this one – and a comfortable one at that.
Liverpool are chasing the Premier League title whereas United have appeared a little lost under Amorim in recent games.
This was a much better display though and Rio Ferdinand was impressed with United’s performance whilst United fans hailed Bruno Fernandes.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has offered his view too, telling BBC Sport that he felt his side started the game strongly.
However, Slot felt that United were keeping nine players behind the ball in a low block with just two players causing problems on the counter – Rasmus Hojlund and eventual goalscorer Amad Diallo.
This setup was difficult for Slot and Liverpool, with the Dutchman feeling that United’s approach was ‘not always easy’ to unpick.
“We started really well, had three open chances in the game and then there was a period of time which was more difficult for us,” said Slot.
“It is difficult if you play quality players that are playing in a low block with only [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Amad] Diallo as attackers. It’s not always easy to find the gaps and that’s what happened. Then being 1-0 down makes it even more difficult but I was very happy with the mentality we showed afterwards going 2-1 up,” he added.
Slot completely refuted suggestions that Liverpool underestimated United and almost took the game easy.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Slot suggested that goalkeeper Andre Onana was just hitting the ball long early on and forced Liverpool to deal with aerial balls.
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk tend to be strong in that area but it was still an awkward problem to deal with at the back.
Slot felt that United really started to play on the deck late on though and believed United started to really show quality on the ball.
“No, I don’t think that has anything to do with it. It’s just them going into a low block playing here,” said Slot.
“They have quality with the ball and without the ball, difficult to play through. It was so open when they started to play. You can see more how good they are if they are trying to play. For the first 75 minutes, [Andre] Onana played the ball long and every free-kick they got, they just hit it forward. In the last 15 minutes, you could see if they play over the ground, how good they are,” he added.
Slot unsurprisingly preferred when the game was more open and his comments are something of a dig at United’s approach in terms of being direct.
United really offered a varied performance though with some battle, physicality and heart – especially from the impressive Manuel Ugarte – alongside some intricate attacking play.
This is what United fans want to see and Sunday’s display at Anfield can’t be a flash in the pan as Amorim looks to build momentum.
Amad DialloAndre OnanaRasmus HojlundRuben Amorim
