It was a big game and a big surprise for most who expected a shabby Manchester United side only to witness the best version of the team in almost two full seasons.
Ruben Amorim’s side went to Anfield with a point to prove and almost made away with all three points, but the Reds had the home field advantage and the better form which helped them claw their way out of what could have been a disastrous defeat.
Goals from Lisandro Martinez, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Amad Diallo ensured that both teams shared the spoils in the wake of a resurgence from Manchester City.
Here’s what Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, had to say about the outcome of the game.
We dropped two points
“Of course, it feels for us as two points dropped,” he began. “I think many people, what stays in their head for a long time is what happens in the end and that was a big chance for [Harry] Maguire, of course.
“But what we tend to forget is two minutes before, {statorium_player pid=61 sid=343 text=”Virgil [van Dijk]”} had maybe such a big chance as he had to make it 3-2 for us. In the end, it was a difficult game. A bit similar to maybe the Nottingham Forest game, where the playing style of both teams was quite similar.
“Defending in a low block with a lot of bodies and if they had the ball, not the risk of build-up but play it long. Every free-kick they got somewhere in and around their own half or our half, they brought it in, so that was a bit similar to Forest.
“That is not always easy then to play against that style of football and that’s what showed against Forest and it showed again today. Especially if they have such good, quality players that can defend so well, then it is not so easy to play it through that low block that they had.”
The game was difficult to control…
“It’s not so easy to take control if the other team plays every ball into your last line, then the ball is constantly in the air and there’s constantly duels,” he added.
“That is, I think, what makes it difficult. We couldn’t control it completely because every time we had control, we had a shot on target, [Andre] Onana put the ball on the ground and hit it long towards our half. Then the ball is open.
“Of course, we had to do much better in the two goals we conceded, but that’s what every manager says, probably – [Ruben] Amorim will tell you they had to do better in the two goals we scored. Taking control against a team that plays almost every ball into your last line is not as easy as [against] another playing style.”