MO SALAH’S late penalty spiked an extraordinary Manchester United comeback to earn Liverpool a point.
But wasteful Liverpool still squandered the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they failed to capitalise on their complete dominance of the first half.
8Mo Salah netted from 12 yards to rescue a point for LiverpoolCredit: Getty
8Kobbie Mainoo scored a screamer for Man UtdCredit: Getty
8But the 2-2 draw left Liverpool trailing Arsenal in the title raceCredit: Reuters
Liverpool dominated the first half, but Man Utd rallied in the second.After yet another thrilling matchup with their fierce rivals United, Jurgen Klopp’s team finds itself one point clear of third-place Manchester City but behind leaders Arsenal on goal differential. Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo produced incredible goals to turn a one-sided game around after Luis Diaz had volleyed Liverpool into the lead. Young Liverpool center defender Jarrell Quansah made a terrible mistake that led to Fernandes’ equalizer. This could yet be remembered as the “Demba Ba moment” of the season. 
Because Liverpool appeared to be coasting back to the top and had surpassed United up until that time.However, United threw away a lead for the third straight game when Salah equalized from the penalty spot after Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave up a penalty in the 84th minute. Almost as spectacular as United’s incredible 4-3 FA Cup victory over Liverpool three weeks prior, this was.Alejandro Garnacho thought he had opened the scoring early on before he was ruled offside
Marcus Rashford added to Man Utd’s injury woes when he was subbed offCredit: AFPErik ten Hag has also done a lot to undermine Klopp’s farewell tour, destroying the German’s hopes of winning a quadruple and now hurting his chances of winning a triple, even though he is currently being fired at Old Trafford. It was difficult to determine whether chaos—the wreckage of Thursday’s dramatic collapse at Chelsea or the triumph of their FA Cup victory over Liverpool here, barely three weeks ago—would have preoccupied United’s thoughts.Like that FA Cup classic, this game started out wide open, end to end, and with the volume turned up around Old Trafford. 
Andre Onana was once again busy facing a number of shots against himCredit: GettyIn the second minute, Bruno Fernandes picked up a pass that found its way to Rasmus Hojlund in the Liverpool goal, although the Dane always appeared to be offside. But Liverpool quickly got on the attack, with Dominik Szoboszlai missing three opportunities before Diaz’s first goal.The Hungarian was first sent clean through but Andre Onana made a great stop to deny him. Later, he pinged a long-range attempt that went just over and skewed a shot wide from a low center by Andy Robertson.
Jurgen Klopp fumed as his side went 2-1 downCredit: AFPFollowing the chaos of the Cup quarterfinal, this was textbook Liverpool showing their dominance over United.Midway through the first half, Liverpool completed a corner brilliantly, but United defended it horribly, giving United the early lead. Nunez received it from Robertson and beat Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to direct a header towards the far post, where an unmarked Diaz volleyed the ball past Onana and into the ground. While Klopp’s team had a voracious thirst for a second goal, their finishing was off.With four center backs on the United injury list, Nunez was only making his second start and generating issues for youthful Willy Kambwala. After a quick break, Onana blocked a shot by Salah, Nunez curled one over in space, and Salah missed a crossfield pass from Szoboszlai. 
Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouled Harvey Elliott in the box to award Liverpool a penaltyCredit: AFPThe visitors weren’t nearly as clinical, but it was as one-sided as Liverpool’s 5-0 victory here in the early days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign. When Diaz dropped down pretending to be injured, Casemiro kicked the ball out, infuriating his own supporters.And Fernandes, who frequently gives the impression that he lacks friends, appeared to be selecting fictitious ones with some rather startling passes.
The shot total was 15-0 at the half, and it increased to 17-0 until United equalized in a bizarre twist of events reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Even though Fernandes’ attempt to square it to Virgil Van Dijk was nowhere near as accurate as it should have been, Fernandes still managed to score a first-ever goal from about 40 yards above Caoimhin Kelleher, who may have performed better.
The scoreline was more like a bath in asses’ milk than it was flattering to United. Suddenly, though, Old Trafford was reverberating with song and United were purring, Alejandro Garnacho had a shot deflected over and Marcus Rashford’s cross-shot caused panic for Kelleher. Still, Liverpool should have regained the lead when they broke from a United corner, and were five-on-two at one point, before Diaz – who should have shot – crossed for the far post where Nunez, true to form, miscued his shot. Ten Hag substituted Antony for the injured Rashford, and Klopp changed Conor Bradley’s position from Quansah to Joe Gomez.
Then the remarkable turned into the unthinkable and United took the lead.
Casemiro played an overhead pass to Mainoo who found Garnacho. The winger skipped a pass to Wan-Bissaka who squared for Mainoo, who turned and curled a gem of a shot inside the far corner.
It was a ridiculous finish from a teenager who is primarily a defensive midfielder.
While Liverpool had squandered so many clear chances, here was a United kid conjuring a goal out of nothing.
Soon Onana was performing a Cruyff turn on Cody Gakpo, Garnacho was passing up a decent opportunity and a United win was beginning to look a distinct possibility.
Klopp was fuming when Kambwalla was only booked for a heavy challenge on Gomez – although the United man did when the ball.
Then Salah skied a glaring chance after Onana pushed out a Diaz shot.
Soon, though, the Egyptian made amends. Wan-Bissaka lunged at Harvey Elliott in his own penalty area, missed the ball, and Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.
Salah sent Onana the wrong way and Liverpool were back on terms.
Diaz skied a brilliant chance from close range and Antony shot straight at Kelleher when he could have won it in injury-time.