Liverpool could only manage a point at home to out-of-form Manchester United as a late Amad Diallo goal salvaged a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
United had not scored at Anfield since 2018, but Lisandro Martinez broke that duck by firing in off the bar seven minutes into the second half.
A superb touch and finish from Cody Gakpo, and a penalty from Mohamed Salah following a Matthijs de Ligt handball turned the game on its head before Amad’s leveller. Harry Maguire could have won it at the death but he miscued with the goal gaping.
Given the two sides’ recent form, many thought it would be a case of how many for Liverpool. But they were nowhere near their best against the Red Devils, who will take belief from defying expectations.
Here, Express Sport takes you through how each Liverpool player performed on Merseyside, including one display Arne Slot won’t have been too impressed by…
Liverpool player ratings vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1)
Alisson: 7
Alert to come off his line when needed, competent playing out from the back and a good save to deny Rasmus Hojlund in a one-on-one.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 2 (booked) (Bradley, 86)
Ran ragged by Diogo Dalot all game – Alexander-Arnold didn’t have the pace or strength to deal with the Portuguese. Caught out of position countless times. Poor pass gave the ball away for United’s opener, and everything the visitors did came down his side.
Ibrahima Konate: 4
Clumsy on his return to the XI. Stepped up at the wrong time and Rasmus Hojlund went clean through. Should have done more to stop Alejandro Garnacho when he set up Amad for United’s second.
Virgil van Dijk: 7
Liverpool will thank their lucky stars they had Van Dijk organising the back line when they were under the cosh. Had lots of danger to clear towards the end of the first half, and made a great sliding block to deny Dalot. Could have won it with a header in stoppage time.
Andrew Robertson: 5
A quiet match on the whole until he lost Amad in the box, which turned out to be a costly mistake.
Ryan Gravenberch: 8
Slick with his passing and a strong presence in the middle of the park. Set up a great early chance for Gakpo which could easily have been a goal. Left Kobbie Mainoo for dead and threatened the bottom corner with a strike from distance.
Alexis Mac Allister: 8
Liverpool‘s best player. Found his passing range early on and maintained it throughout. Lovely assist for the Gakpo goal, and nearly grabbed one of his own in the first half, when his good run was found by Salah.
Pinged a brilliant ball on a sixpence for Mac Allister and the Argentine should have scored. Squeezed his penalty past Andre Onana, but only just.
Curtis Jones: 5 (Jota, 60)
Offered very little in the attacking midfield role. His contributions were few and far between.
Cody Gakpo: 7 (Elliott, 86)
A strong game for the Dutchman, who skipped past Manuel Ugarte and was unlucky not to get him a booking. Gakpo’s touch and finish into the top corner to haul Liverpool level was something to behold.
Luis Diaz: 5 (Nunez, 60)
Sloppy performance included an overhit ball to Salah on the counter-attack. Absent for most of the game.
SUBS
Darwin Nunez: 5 (booked)
Picked up a silly booking and will miss Liverpool‘s next Premier League game through suspension.
Diogo Jota: 6
Not the impact he would have wanted to make after coming on with a good half-hour to play.
Conor Bradley: N/A
A late addition.
Harvey Elliott: N/A
A late addition.
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