Premier League: United battle to hold Liverpool
Liverpool 0 - 0 Manchester United
Manchester United provided a much-needed boost to manager Erik ten Hag's morale by securing a hard-fought draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
This came at a crucial time when the team was grappling with a sense of crisis following a heavy home defeat to Bournemouth and a lacklustre Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Despite facing adversity and an injury-hit squad, United managed to halt their recent decline, albeit with a less-than-stellar performance.
The match, marred by mediocrity, saw Diogo Dalot being sent off for dissent in stoppage time. Nevertheless, Ten Hag had reasons to smile, contrasting with the disappointment felt by Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, whose team missed an opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana made a crucial save in the first half, denying Virgil van Dijk, while Rasmus Hojlund had a promising chance in the second half, only to be thwarted by Liverpool's Alisson. Despite Liverpool's dominance in possession, they squandered numerous opportunities, settling for a single point that was insufficient to surpass Arsenal at the league summit.
Liverpool fail to rise to the occasion
In a historic moment for Anfield, the new top deck of the Anfield Road Stand was inaugurated, attracting the largest attendance for a home game since February 1963. However, the on-field action failed to live up to the significance of the occasion.
Unlike their previous encounter, where Liverpool thrashed United 7-0, this time the Red Devils displayed resilience, denying their rivals the chance to repeat such a commanding victory. Although Liverpool started as favourites, the final whistle signalled a sense of missed opportunity for Klopp's side rather than a hard-earned point.
Liverpool's initial momentum waned, and despite their 69% possession and 34 shots, their efforts lacked precision and were repelled by a determined United defence. Even Mohamed Salah couldn't conjure up a moment of brilliance, and a late chance for victory eluded them when substitute Cody Gakpo headed over while unmarked.
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Manchester United battle back
Ten Hag's United, heavily criticised in recent times, faced an uphill battle at Anfield. However, the team showed commendable defensive grit, especially in the absence of the injured Harry Maguire. United's willingness to put bodies on the line and goalkeeper Onana's solid performance contributed to earning a valuable point.
Despite the circumstances, United can take satisfaction from the result, knowing they weathered the storm and even had an opportunity to snatch victory in the second half.
Some of the best reaction
Liam, a Manchester United Season Ticket holder, said: "In the lead-up to the match, many of the fans I was takking to before the match was that avoiding a repeat of such a harrowing humiliation could be viewed as a moral victory. The fact we didn't is a major win for the manager and the players. It's now important we build on this and win our next match against West Ham United."
Danny, another United fan, added: "Liverpool had 34 shots on goal and 69% possession, but this was a resilient performance without any of the shameful capitulation exhibited at Anfield recently. We stood firm for a draw and I am so proud of the team after a poor run of form."
The embedded tweet below contains the thoughts of the Liverpool boss.
Jürgen Klopp was pleased with plenty of aspects of our performance in #LIVMUN but rued the lack of calmness in the final third:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 17, 2023
Vik @LFCVik2 replied: "Our front three have been awful for more than a month. Furthermore, Diaz and Nunez have scored two goals in over ten games, things are not looking good at the moment."
