Match reportLuis Diaz and Mohamed Salah score but Liverpool held to 2-2 draw at Old Trafford
Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Mohamed Salah’s late penalty ensuring the visitors gained a point from Sunday’s Premier League clash.
A dominant first half from the Reds saw them go in a goal to the good at the break thanks to Luis Diaz’s close-range finish, but United were ahead by the midway point of the second period through Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.
Jürgen Klopp’s side kept going, however, and claimed a draw when Salah calmly rolled home an 84th-minute spot-kick after Harvey Elliott had been brought down in the area.
The result means Liverpool remain second in the table, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference and one point above third-placed Manchester City.
Team news
Wataru Endo returned to Liverpool’s line-up as one of three changes from Thursday’s win over Sheffield United, with Andy Robertson and Jarell Quansah also starting.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Endo (Elliott, 69), Van Dijk, Diaz, Szoboszlai (Jones, 66), Nunez (Gakpo, 69), Mac Allister, Salah, Robertson, Quansah, Bradley (Gomez, 66).
Unused subs: Adrian, Konate, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Danns.
First half
As the rain teemed down in Manchester, the home crowd thought their side had raced into an early lead when Alejandro Garnacho got in behind and finished, but the offside flag was up.
Thereafter, though, the half belonged to Liverpool, who had created several promising opportunities prior to Diaz finally making the breakthrough in the 23rd minute.
Robertson’s outswinging corner was glanced on by Darwin Nunez and Diaz was there, unmarked at the back post to divert the ball home from six yards.
The Reds continued to create chances as they sought the comfort of a two-goal cushion.
A counter-attack ended with Diaz playing his pass slightly behind Salah, who was unable to connect sweetly enough to beat Andre Onana, before Nunez curled narrowly over following a driving run through the centre by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Diaz and Conor Bradley then each saw attempts blocked and United made it to half-time without sustaining further damage.
Second half
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first ended, with Liverpool on top, and, after he’d played a major role in the build-up, Nunez was denied only by a last-ditch block when he blasted a loose ball goalwards from inside the area.
However, the momentum of the contest was altered five minutes after the restart when, with Caoimhin Kelleher primed to be involved in the build-up and therefore stranded, Fernandes seized on a loose Quansah pass and lofted a first-time strike home from inside the centre circle.
Kelleher then had to be alert to palm away Marcus Rashford’s cross-cum-shot as a buoyed United enjoyed their best spell of the match and, after Liverpool had spurned an opportunity to retake the advantage on the break, the hosts edged ahead through Mainoo’s curler.
The Reds responded well and Salah fired over from close range when Onana palmed Diaz’s effort back into a dangerous area.
But the equaliser was imminent and it was Salah who got it. Substitute Elliott was fouled in the box and Salah stepped up to coolly send Onana the wrong way from 12 yards.
The Egyptian’s reaction to the goal – he grabbed the ball from the net to ensure play restarted as quickly as possible – spoke of Liverpool’s urgency to find a winner in the six minutes plus stoppage time that remained.
They so nearly did so in the 94th minute when Robertson’s knockdown found Diaz, only for the No.7 to clear the bar from close range and the game therefore finished all square.