Liverpool relinquished the lead of the Premier League title race after a derby draw with Manchester United that left them with a lingering experience of deja vu.
Only three weeks after being knocked out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, in a game which they mostly dominated, Jurgen Klopp’s guys once again failed to ignore the chaotic test of overcoming Erik ten Hag’s ragtag bunch.
Luis Diaz put the Reds in advance at the ruin before Bruno Fernandes took advantage of an error to score from forty yards. United then led thru Kobbie Mainoo’s candy strike yet Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool a point from the spot.
The hosts threatened to reason large troubles for their competitors internal the first few minutes when Alejandro Garnacho was once narrowly offside earlier than rounding the goalkeeper and scoring what would have been the opening goal.
It took Liverpool a bit of time earlier than they bought going and the first warning sign got here by using Dominik Szoboszlai breaking in in the back of with acres of space, only to be denied via Andre Onana’s sharp reflexes.
Soon enough, the Reds were in near-total control and carved United open at will. The opener, on 23 minutes, used to be completely deserved with Darwin Nunez flicking on a nook for the unmarked Diaz to turn home.
The solely shock for the rest of the first half was how they failed to make it two. Salah, Nunez, Szoboszlai and Conor Bradley all saw tries flash previous the publish or blocked whilst United entered the ruin besides a shot to their title – having conceded 14.
Perhaps inevitably, United levelled with their first shot of the game. Jarell Quansah’s sloppy omit no longer solely found Fernandes simply inside the Liverpool 1/2 however also caught Caoimhin Kelleher well off his line, which the Portuguese playmaker spotted as he lobbed a shot into the bottom corner.
Old Trafford arose from its slumber but the visitors must have long gone returned beforehand moments later when a swift counter noticed Nunez with options to shoot and bypass in the six-yard box, but something it was that he did produce warranted neither description.
Just as in their FA Cup tie only ultimate month, the Red Devils harnessed the chaos in their favour and delighted in once-calm Liverpool heads going off.
In the 67th minute, Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka came down the left and observed Mainoo with his back to aim and simply internal the box. A moment later, the ball was nestling in the pinnacle corner after a slick spin and shot left Kelleher stranded.
Klopp’s fury on the touchline used to be evident and, after some time, his group were persuaded to regain a semblance of control. Joe Gomez, off the bench, tested Onana earlier than Diaz’s shot was parried closer to Salah and the rebound blazed over.
Yet the Egyptian cooly made amends from the penalty spot with six minutes to go after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s stonewall foul on Harvey Elliott.
With seven delivered minutes and a draw no longer precise enough to ship Liverpool top, they ploughed on looking for a winner and Diaz shot over from Andrew Robertson’s knockdown earlier than Antony failed to emulate Amad Diallo when racing through at the death. Elliott’s effort, straight down Onana’s throat, capped some other derby of chaos which, again, ultimately left Liverpool worse off.
