MIRROR
Liverpool couldn’t get the better of Manchester United and were held to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford that prevents them from going top.
Alejandro Garnacho had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening two minutes, but his goal was chalked off after the linesman’s flag cut celebrations short. Andre Onana’s smart save ensured Dominik Szoboszlai didn’t fire Liverpool in front soon after.
22 minutes in and the Reds did take the lead, silencing the Stretford End in the process. Darwin Nunez’s flick on from Andy Robertson’s corner was met by Luis Diaz, who made no mistake from close range to put Liverpool in front. The defending on display will undoubtedly concern Erik ten Hag.
United ended the first half without a single of shot on goal, yet their first attempt of the game was quite something. Jarell Quansah’s sloppy backpass was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes, who arrowed a strike beyond Caoimhín Kelleher from the best part of about 45 yards out.
The fact that Fernandes’ strike wasn’t even the best of the game is the best review of Kobbie Mainoo’s goal to make it 2-1. There were shades of Federico Macheda’s famous strike against Aston Villa, with United’s latest boy wonder sending the home fans wild.
And yet, there was more drama still to come. Mohamed Salah’s penalty restored a point for Liverpool after Aaron Wan-Bissaka clumsily brought down Harvey Elliot inside the area.
Mirror Football has analysed five talking points from a thrilling clash between two Premier League titans at Old Trafford.
Mainoo’s magic moment
When discussing the positions being taken up by Kobbie Mainoo, United legend Gary Neville suggested it “defied logic and the basics of the game.”
While it may not actually be the fault of United’s teen sensation, given there’s every chance he was simply following Ten Hag’s instructions, it is a damning indictment of how the Red Devils midfield fared against their Liverpool counterparts early on.
BUT, if the first half was one to forget for the teen sensation, his finest United moment yet awaited him after the interval. With just over 20 minutes still to play, Mainoo flipped the game on its head with an absolutely jaw-dropping curler that found its way into the back of the net.
Neville’s claim that it is “so easy to play against Manchester United’s midfield” may be true, but with moments like that up their sleeve, they are always a threat.
Salah strikes again
How sick United must be of the sight of Salah? Liverpool’s talisman has scored more goals in this fixture than any other and did so again on Sunday.
Salah showed the kind of calmness you’d expect from a player of his calibre to step up and send Andre Onana the wrong way from the penalty spot. It means he is the player with the most goals against United in Premier League history with 11, though he now has 14 against them in all competitions.
Klopp often turns his back when Liverpool win a penalty, but the German refused to look away, suggesting he knew that his star man wouldn’t crumble under the pressure. Salah missed a penalty at home to Arsenal in a similar situation last term, but looked like the coolest man in the stadium this time around.
