Manchester: Adam Lallana's 85th-minute goal helped Liverpool salvage a 1-1 draw against arch-rival Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday in Premier League fixture.
- After trailing for most of the game, Liverpool finally took a sigh of relief when Lallana scored from the low cross and cancelled out Marcus Rashford's first-half goal.
- However, Liverpool failed to continue their winning run as they emerged victorious in 17 PL games prior to facing United, and dropped points for the first time this season.
Overall, it was a game of few chances, yet it was fascinating tactically.
Manchester United produced a good show throughout the game but it was a defending error which cost them two points as Andrew Robertson's low cross was missed by Victor Lindelof at the near post and ran through to Lallana, who tapped into an open net from four yards.
Earlier, in the first half, Rashford found the back of the net in the 36th minute to hand the hosts a lead after James ran into space down the right and curled a brilliant pass/cross between the keeper and defenders.
Rashford kept his cool and lost Matip with a beautiful double-run, shaping to move towards the near post before pulling in the opposite direction, and forced the bouncing ball past Liverpool's keeper Alisson Becker from close range.
Interestingly, Sadio Mane almost found the equaliser for the visitors in the first half but his goal in the 44th minute was chalked off after VAR showed the ball brushing Mane's hand when the striker was trying to control the long ball forward.
Noticeably, after a long time United show the passion and zeal to win the game which they have been missing since the past few matches. Also, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 3-4-1-2 system, with split strikers, worked brilliantly as United kept the pressure on Liverpool for most of the first half, while in the second half, the Red Devils were playing on the counter.
Meanwhile, the result means that Liverpool remains six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the points table with 25 points from nine games, while Manchester United move up to 13th and are only two points off the relegation zone with just 10 points in their kitty.
