Amado Diallo’s goal 10 minutes from time ended Manchester United’s three-game losing streak in the Premier League with a surprise point after a thrilling second half at leaders Liverpool.
23 points behind the leaders the Reds, Ruben Amorim’s side impressed during a relatively low-key first period before taking the lead when Lisandro Martinez fired in Bruno Fernandes’ through ball.
Liverpool, who have lost once this season in all competitions, equalized within eight minutes from Cody Gakpo’s cross, and United’s poor form looked set to continue in cruel fashion when Mohamed Salah converted a 70th-minute penalty from a handball Matthijs de Ligt.
Diallo came on from Alejandro Garnach’s delivery to restore parity for United, who should have scored again seconds before the end when Harry Maguire hit a golden chance over the bar from Joshua Zirkzee’s pass.
Amad cleared after Garnach’s low cross 😮
What a GAME this is at Anfield! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LWRlKvyAE5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
In case United fans needed any reason to fear a trip to Anfield this season, their side arrived there without a win since 2016 and without a goal since a 3-1 defeat in 2018.
After a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle in which they conceded both goals until the 20th minute on Monday, Amorim saw his players produce a far more respectable first-half display, with Rasmus Hojlund making a fine save from Alisson.
Lisandro Martínez fires a thunderbolt beyond Alisson! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/z3vmqkbIol
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Amorim’s decision to concentrate most of United’s attacks along his left appeared wise in the context of the shaky defensive play of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Diallo should have profited when Diogo Dalot located him in front of the goal with a cross from that side, only for the midfielder to send a bizarre header back outside the penalty area in the opposite direction of the goal.
Cody Gakpo scores a sensational solo shot against Onana! 😨 pic.twitter.com/ggR8CJLNMk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Visiting goalkeeper Andre Onana did well to deny Alexis Mac Allister’s early strike and United’s reward for their progress was Martinez’s emphatic first goal with their 45th effort at Anfield since their previous goal there.
Amorim will rue United’s collapse during the 19 minutes following their first goal, in which Liverpool had all five shots and seven of the nine touches inside the box between the teams.
The King of Egypt scores for Liverpool! 👑 pic.twitter.com/cYPl8H75PN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
United’s distribution also seemed to go astray with an unlikely victory in sight, producing an abysmal 51% accuracy during that period, compared to Liverpool’s 77%.
Salah’s 13th goal in his last 11 appearances looked set to send Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the table, but Diallo again proved to be the hero for his side, as he was when he scored their 90th-minute winner against Manchester City on December 15.
United rose to 13th place, while Liverpool are six points clear and a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal, who drew 1-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
