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Mohamed Salah rescued a point from the penalty spot after blockbusters from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo

 Updated 
Sun 7 Apr 2024 13.10 EDTFirst published on Sun 7 Apr 2024 09.00 EDT
Mo Salah rescues a point for Liverpool from the penalty spot in a thriller at Old Trafford.
Mo Salah rescues a point for Liverpool from the penalty spot in a thriller at Old Trafford. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
Mo Salah rescues a point for Liverpool from the penalty spot in a thriller at Old Trafford. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

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Virgil van Dijk had his say, too:

“We should have been 2-0 up at least. We had them under control. It definitely feels like a loss at this point. Because we were wasteful in our chances we gave them a lifeline. Unfortunately individual mistakes can happen in a game but there was still so much time to put it right. But we were in a rush, losing too many balls in challenges in midfield.

“One hundred per cent (it was self-inflicted). It feels like the cup game again. In the first half we were much better than we played back then, we created chances and we limited them but obviously we know that one moment can change the game if you don’t finish it off and that’s the disappointing part.

“We should have won it today but the reality is that we didn’t and we have to make it up in the other games that come.”

Jurgen Klopp spoke to Sky, too: “We should have won the game, that is clear. We should have had other goals in the first half already. No shots in the first half and 1-0 is the lowest we could expect. Really well done from Bruno. Then the stadium is coming and we needed a few minutes to settle again and they scored another screamer. We had big chances before and after they scored. As far as I’m concerned, we have a point more than we did before. They put an extra shift in, that’s how it is. We will face that again against Everton. Fully deserved equaliser.

“I’m not angry at all with the boys but in the game I’m not just going to let things happen. We dropped too deep. There were plenty of situations where we could have defended the ball. You need to be proactive.

“We play now at home against Atalanta, difficult game but at home and then another. We don’t have many home games left. The team who wins the league in the end should deserve it. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.”

Kobbie Mainoo spoke to Sky Sports: “Disappointed to be honest. I think we performed really well in the second half. The lads made minor mistakes and if we iron them out then we win the game.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to score my first Old Trafford goal and to do it in this fixture was even more special. We didn’t get the three points and that’s the main thing. Mistakes happen in games and they can be detremental. It’s tough and it takes it out of you.

“Again, details that we’ve missed. I have my own jobs in the team but the flick on got to him in space.”

Jamie Carragher, who sounded pained in the Sky commentary box as the second half progressed, had this to say at full-time:

Liverpool have only got themselves to blame. Same as in the FA Cup tie, not clinical enough when it mattered. Should have put Manchester United to bed, so this is definitely two points dropped.

David Wall, another United fan: “Sure, United aren’t very good, but a season where you knock Liverpool out of the cup and do as much as anyone to scupper their title challenge has a certain satisfaction to it nonetheless.”

Andy Flintoff gets in touch: “This is what’s so frustrating about United - they can fight like terriers in matches against the top teams, but meekly go through the motions against other teams. The question we need to ask is, can Ten Hag really motivate this squad?”

Seven games to go, and it’s tight, so tight.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Arsenal 31 51 71
2 Liverpool 31 42 71
3 Man City 31 40 70
4 Aston Villa 32 17 60
5 Tottenham Hotspur 30 18 57

Final score: Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is out and shaking hands, a broad smile for Casemiro but his players look gutted, disappointed. What a game that was. Liverpool let that slip, they know that. But they had to come back into it despite being the far superior team. United scored two brilliant goals and defended with determination if nothing like organisation. Arsenal stay top, and do so after a game that often defied belief and sense.

90+8 min: It’s taken, and drops to Elliott, but he can’t beat Onana. That’s it, 2-2, what a strange trip it’s been.

90+7 min: Hojlund, sets up Antony, and the shot is straight at Kelleher. Diaz, as United lose the ball after that, keeps the ball in play, and Casemiro comes in for another yellow card to stop him. Liverpool have a free-kick to win it.

90+5 min: Bruno Fernandes has chance to release Hojlund, but doesn’t beat the first man. Jones is fouled by Amrabat, and then Gomez blams the free-kick, aimed for Diaz, out of play. Nerves aplenty.

90+4 min: It’s all Liverpool again. And they attempt the patient move from which they got their penalty. The ball is lofted, Robertson hauls Antony down and Diaz smashes over. Had that gone in, VAR would surely have ruled it out. Though who knows?

90+3 min: United take an age over a throw-in, lose the ball and Mount has to commit a yellow-card offence.

Anthony Taylor books Mason Mount. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
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90+1 min: Jurgen Klopp paces and paces, wearing the pressure all so obviously. No wonder he wants a rest; his team have put him through it.

90 min: Bruno, again, is the man making the last-ditch tackle after Casemiro’s kick clear travelled no distance at all. Seven minutes added on.

88 min: It’s Liverpool’s fans who can be heard. The Old Trafford air is filled with rancour, and some bile, too. United can’t get any grip of midfield but then Salah loses the ball. Jones commits a tactical foul on Amrabat, and gets a yellow.

86 min: Liverpool continue their hunt for a goal. The ball is aimed at Diaz, who slips off down the gap between the pitch and the stands. Dalot, too. Both get up, gingerly.

85 min: Wan-Bissaka’s lack of discipline was very United 2024, though Liverpool had been pushing and pushing. Mason Mount comes on, Mainoo departing the scene. Mount’s introduction at Stamford Bridge was fateful.;

Goal! Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool (Salah, pen 84)

The main man takes his time to settle the ball, but send Onana the wrong way and rushes to the net to collect it. Only half the job is done.

Salah sends Onana the wrong way, and we’re all-square at Old Trafford. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
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Penalty to Liverpool!

Elliott has been impressive since coming on, and tempts Wan-Bissaka to go to ground. It’s a stonewall penalty, no complaints there. VAR takes little time.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka brings Harvey Elliott for a penalty to Liverpool. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
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80 min: On comes Ambrabat for Garnacho, to shore up midfield. Good luck with that on Amrabat’s showings so far for United. Onana is booked for yet more dallying with the ball.

78 min: United back in heavy numbers but how orderly are they? Liverpool pushing and probing. Kambwala heads away; he’s had a fine game, calm in the eye of the storm.

77 min: We approach the part of the game where Liverpool score and United concede. Gomez’s shot is deflected into the path of Onana, who saves with some relief and then dallies, to the annoyance of the away contingent.

73 min: Liverpool look just as ragged and Klopp is losing his cool as Kambwala slides in to tackle Gomez. Klopp wanted a red rather than the yellow the teenager received.

Jurgen Klopp is unusually angry in his technical area. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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71 min: There’s a stramash in the centre of the field as Hojlund is robbed. And fouled. United fancy this, Garnacho forcing a corner off Gomez.

69 min: It turns out that Nunez neither exploded nor scored. It was left to Klopp to explode. Understandable, this game would drive anyone to insanity.

68 min: Jurgen Klopp is absolutely raging by the way. Van Dijk and Quansah are at each other. Two more Liverpool subs: Elliot and Gakpo on, off come Endo and Nunez.

Goal! Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (Mainoo, 67)

All his own work. Mainoo could have passed the ball out to the right, but instead plays it to Garnacho, and collects the ball, spins and smashes it with his right, and in.

Kobbie Mainoo scores a beauty and the home side lead! Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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66 min: Subs imminent from both teams? Rashford is down, and that looks to be it for him. Antony will come on for him. Liverpool will bring on Curtis Jones for Szoboszlai, and Joe Gomez replaces Conor Bradley, who was on a booking. Szoboszlai’s passing had been increasingly sloppy.

63 min: Garnacho, quiet so far, sets up Bruno for a diving header. And soon enough Liverpool go down the other end, and United somehow smuggle the ball away. This resembles a game of sevens rugby, the ball speeding from end to end.

62 min: Nunez is haring around chaotically, and could either a) explode or b) score.

C) Both are possibilities, too.

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60 min: Kobbie Mainoo is down, having made one of the many blocks being asked of United players. He gets up eventually, and then Rashford is offside from a free-kick.

59 min: Dalot’s buccaneering run sets up a quick United attack, and Rashford’s ball into the box is asking to be hit. Kelleher claims with some relief.

57 min: United can’t get the ball clear. Great response from Livepool. Salah is crowded out as United defenders swarm. On the sidelines, Klopp is getting antsy.

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