MANCHESTER UNITED – LIVERPOOL 2-2:
– In the first half, Liverpool should have decided the match, says Viaplay expert Bojan Djordjic after the match.
Liverpool looked to be cruising to victory at Old Trafford, but a crazy development turned the game around for Manchester United.
First by a wild scoring from midfield from Bruno Fernandes. Then by an artistic goal from prodigy Kobbie Mainoo. It happened after great pressure from Liverpool.
– He can’t believe his eyes, Jürgen Klopp. How is it possible to be under in this match? wondered commentator Andreas Toft.
Mainoo’s goal was his first at Old Trafford.
To create a picture of the strength conditions during the match: Liverpool had shot 14 times in the first half. Manchester United had not fired a single shot in the half.
However, it didn’t quite last for United, after Salah equalized late in the match from the penalty spot.
– We should have won
This means that Liverpool miss out on important points in the title hunt. Now it is Arsenal who are in the lead, and are best placed in terms of points in the Premier League.
– We should have won the match, that’s clear. We created problems for ourselves. We controlled the game, scored first and we should have scored more goals, says Jürgen Klopp to Sky Sports.
He is nevertheless satisfied with the state of affairs, despite the fact that they are no longer leading the Premier League.
– This competition is so tough. Just to be in that race is exceptional. I don’t feel depressed or anything, I know that such things happen, says Klopp to Viaplay.
Liverpool started best
It was Liverpool who struck first at Old Trafford. It was Colombian Luis Diaz who scored in an acrobatic manner, making it 1-0 for the away team.
– He (Diaz) is completely free on the back post, and no one sees him sneaking behind, said Semb.
BBC expert Clinton Morrison also reacted to how easily Diaz got his score.
– It is criminal to let in set pieces. You can’t give Luis Diaz that much time and space, Morrison commented.
Crazy Fernandes goal
Manchester United would strike back early in the second half, and that with a wild score.
Bruno Fernandes picked up the ball almost on the halfway line and he chipped the ball over a Caoimhin Kelleher who was standing far out.
– It’s almost like you don’t think it can happen, but then it does, said an enthusiastic Semb.
– It cannot be done better, continued the former national team manager.
The pundits at Sky also seemed stunned by the crazy Fernandes goal.
– OMG. Let the mayhem begin, Neville commented.
Later it was Mainoo’s turn to score a dream goal. The 18-year-old turned away a Liverpool defender and curled the ball perfectly behind goalkeeper Kelleher. Thus, Manchester United were suddenly in the lead after having struggled mightily against the Liverpool attack.
However, the visitors were to fight back again. Harvey Elliott was fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and the referee had no doubts. He awarded a penalty for Liverpool, and Mohamed Salah easily put the ball into the goal from the penalty spot. Thus it was 2-2 with just over five minutes left to play.
That was the final result, and many Liverpool supporters will probably feel that their team should have taken all three points with all the chances they had.
Under press
The teams had quite different starting points before the match. Manchester United and Erik ten Hag have been under heavy pressure for a long time, after several poor results.
In addition, the Red Devils are struggling with injuries, and profiles such as Lisandro Martínez, Raphaël Varane, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw had to face the hate match in the Premier League. It also meant that United started with 19-year-old Willy Kambwala at fullback.
Liverpool, on the other hand, is in very good form, and is fighting an intense battle for the league title with Arsenal and Manchester City.