A degree is likely to be okay within the circumstances however there have been a number of worries for Liverpool on this Premier League 2-2 draw in opposition to Man United.
Liverpool 2-2 Man United
Premier League (19) | AnfieldJanuary 5, 2025
Objectives: Gakpo 60’, Salah pen 70′; Martinez 50′, Diallo 80′
1. Alexis Mac Allister masterclass
There was lots of speak on Sky Sports activities’ commentary about Man United’s midfield wanting half-competent for as soon as, however the standout participant within the centre of the park was sporting Liverpool purple.
Alexis Mac Allister was head and shoulders above his teammates and the opposition as he introduced some management and high quality to what was at occasions a reasonably frantic and scrappy recreation.
There was a first-time go from the left touchline that opened up the pitch to permit one Liverpool attacking transfer to take form, and a first-time shot not too lengthy after that examined Andre Onana.
There have been a string of comparable moments for him all through the sport as he engineered lots of Liverpool’s most harmful assaults.
The Argentine will get one thing within the statistics column to indicate for his efficiency with an help for Gakpo’s aim, however his basic play actually stood out.
Bruno Fernandes was named Man of the Match however Mac Allister was at the very least nearly as good.
2. Second-half surge?
Liverpool below Arne Slot have develop into identified for working their means into video games, typically slowly, and sometimes within the second half after a reasonably uneventful first interval.
At occasions this recreation felt much less like Slot’s Liverpool and extra like a throwback to a number of the chaos of the Jurgen Klopp period.
Gamers have been sprinting upfield to assault and sprinting again to defend shortly after, however Liverpool have been world-class for loads of that period so can nonetheless be efficient in such conditions.
At occasions that was the case right here. Gakpo was first up, sitting down Matthijs de Ligt then firing his shot residence in a sometimes emphatic style.
De Ligt was concerned once more as he dealt with the ball to concede a penalty, and Mo Salah stepped as much as nearly convert as Andre Onana went the best means and maybe ought to have saved.
3. TAA AWOL
Typically there was an unfair deal with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s defensive play, which has truly been respectable this season, however there was truthful criticism of the Liverpool right-back on this recreation.
The best, virtually cliched clarification is that with curiosity from Actual Madrid and a contract expiring on the finish of the season, his thoughts was elsewhere, however typically a recreation simply doesn’t swimsuit him defensively and this was certainly one of them.
Within the first half, it appeared Man United have been focusing on the world behind Alexander-Arnold and between him and centre-back Ibrahima Konate who didn’t look match-sharp.
For United’s first aim, Diogo Dalot had sprinted previous him after which on receiving the ball as Liverpool seemed to play out, Trent handed it straight to a United participant. For the second, he and Konate had been dragged out of place.
Trent was ultimately changed by Conor Bradley, however this could have been carried out earlier within the second half.
In the meantime, Andy Robertson is likely to be glad Trent takes the limelight on this regard as he wasn’t significantly better on the opposite aspect.
4. A degree is likely to be okay
This was a typical derby in that Man United seemed significantly better than they’ve carried out all season, turning up for this massive rivalry match in what was their most convincing efficiency below Ruben Amorim despite the fact that they’ve received in another matches.
The stats present Liverpool had the higher of the xG, however United missed two of the three massive probabilities they created and will simply have snatched the win late on had Harry Maguire not booted the ball over the bar.
Alisson was pressured to make a few actually good, key saves to assist his aspect keep at the very least stage.
Taking a degree from such a recreation, when it might simply have been none, isn’t too dangerous for Liverpool given the circumstances.
However when this occurs, it’s important that the following recreation is a win and that subsequent recreation is in opposition to the one staff to have defeated Liverpool this season, Nottingham Forest.
5. Cup consolidation
After the breathlessness of this rivalry, there may very well be extra in retailer in a midweek recreation in opposition to the Premier League’s troubled entertainers Tottenham.
The 2-legged tie would possibly make for a special dynamic, however given the best way Slot has approached the Champions League, he is likely to be trying to get this recreation received within the first leg.
An FA Cup tie in opposition to Accrington Stanley follows subsequent weekend and these two video games ought to assist Slot consolidate his squad as some gamers return from harm.
With Conor Bradley and Konate each again, and Dominik Szoboszlai solely out as a consequence of sickness, Joe Gomez is the one injured participant within the squad at present.
Slot ought to use these cup video games to construct match health for people who want it, whereas additionally preserving his star gamers sharp – one thing the brand new supervisor and his workers have been good at since arriving.
Liverpool 2-2 Man United
