Manchester United drew a 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon at Anfield following a significant improvement.
Despite coming off a four-game losing run and being closer to the drop zone than the European spots going into the match, United was outstanding here and got a great deal for their point.
Although Liverpool had a difficult game and will undoubtedly feel that this was a wasted chance following Saturday's draw between Arsenal and Brighton, they still have a solid six-point lead at the top of the table despite playing one fewer game than their competitors.
How the match played out
Since postponement was contemplated on Sunday morning, the unclean Anfield conditions shouldn't have been a huge surprise.
A powerful performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" lifted Scouse's spirits on a gloomy Merseyside afternoon, although the home audience initially felt demoralized by United's strong performance in the first forty-five minutes.
Ruben Amorim's choice of a young, dynamic midfield pivot helped to mitigate the problems that were so evident against Newcastle. Although United's center-halves' aggressiveness created other problems, their aggression was definitely a net positive throughout.
Liverpool had to contend with a resolute United block that rarely gave up space between the lines. In order to penetrate, there needed to be slick interaction, and Cody Gakpo almost gave the Reds the lead.
Although United prevented Liverpool from gaining any momentum in the first half, the Dutchman's opportunity came amid a barrage of home team shots, and the visitors would have preferred the halftime whistle to sound.
They were able to get past Liverpool's renowned counter-press because to their effective combination play, and they were very happy to target the Reds' right-hand side. Alisson skillfully denied Rasmus Hojlund one-on-one after Amad Diallo mishandled a header to give United the lead.
The visitors needed to rally against their formidable historical rivals, and Arne Slot has no problem raising his team at the half. A few minutes after the restart, Lisandro Martinez gave Amorim's team a well-earned first goal, their first at Anfield in almost six years, making their task much more difficult.
Matthijs de Ligt was responsible for giving Cody Gakpo the space to shoot after diving in, and the Dutch defender was the defensive protagonist once more as Liverpool took the lead. It then appeared as though United would build on their opening goal, but Liverpool's first offensive attempt after falling behind led to the equalizer. Gakpo is a man in form, and his finish was that of a forward boasting the utmost confidence in front of goal.
Wonderful Mac Allister
When Liverpool faced an upgraded Red Devils, they certainly didn't have it all their own way, but Mac Allister was one player who always looked to be in charge. Compared to Jurgen Klopp, Slot has more flexibility in the Argentine role.
During his final season, the German asked Mac Allister to help Liverpool with their holding midfield problems. The rise of Ryan Gravenberch has given Mac Allister more autonomy, as the former Brighton player now plays a more comprehensive role.
In addition to helping Gravenberch in the build-up, he is expected to provide a point of reference between the lines and run off the shoulders of opposing midfielders.
Here, Mac Allister tested Andre Onana after meeting Salah's brilliant pass in behind, showcasing his best space interpretation. While his colleagues failed to achieve their imperious standards on home soil, Mac Allister remained unflinching.
The midfielder's bittiness without the ball complemented his subtle but excellent work with it. He also contributed to both goals.
The nightmare of Alexander and Arnold
On Sunday, Trent Alexander-Arnold will be hoping Florentino Perez was taking a sleep in the afternoon. Although there has been much discussion about the right-back joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, the Englishman's performance against the Red Devils was more Jonathan Woodgate than David Beckham.
Nearly 60% of United's assaults were directed down Liverpool's right by the end of the first half. Sometimes Alexander-Arnold's casual demeanor turned into apathy, as Diogo Dalot kept getting in behind the Englishman.
Despite having a fantastic campaign and generally playing strong defense this season, the right-back's performance was a return to the old caricature. He also did a sloppy job with the ball.
A rusty Ibrahima Konate, who found it difficult to defend the channel with his typical vigor after rejoining the team, may not have helped him.
However, a player of Real Madrid's apparent caliber needs to take charge of his flank, but when Alexander-Arnold was the target, United went crazy. To cap off a wretched afternoon, I was booked and hooked.
United benefits from the vacation week.
Although United didn't get a complete week off, this was the longest gap between games since Amorim took charge.
Of course, the Red Devils benefited. They had clear intentions both in and out of possession, and Monday night's improvement over Newcastle was striking. A major problem from the previous game, according to Amorim, was his center-backs' hesitation to jump into midfield. All three of them made a determined attempt to avoid Liverpool in this situation. Only when the Reds' cunning three strayed from United's axis did trouble start.
The United captain was arguably the best player on the field in the second half, and Bruno Fernandes filled in well after Mainoo was substituted. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo were disciplined for the most part and provided calm in possession, but their positional discipline was put to the test repeatedly and they made a few mistakes, which is to be expected against a formidable opponent who are always adept at dismantling defensive structures.
Even though it wasn't flawless, Amorim, who said his players were "too afraid" to perform in the lead-up to Sunday's match, would be quite proud of his efforts on the training field. At Anfield, his team was more than just capable. It would have been easy for them to take all three points.
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