A giant yellow gritter patrolled the car parks around Anfield on Sunday afternoon and snowdrifts lined the stadium sidelines as rain and sleet fell steadily in the bitter cold of a January battle between England's football giants.
There have been times over the past decade or more when supporting Manchester United has felt like being trapped in an endless winter as they chased past glories, but on this occasion at least Ruben Amorim and his team played as if they were dancing in the sun. .
United had come into the match with Amorim saying they were 'scared' and on a run that broke new records for defeats and mediocrity. They looked like a rabble during their defeat to Newcastle last week as they were sucked into a relegation battle.
Most expected to be cut to pieces by a Liverpool team racing away with the title, but instead another United showed up. Amorim had called for leaders in his team and in this exciting, brutal, end-to-end 2-2 draw he got plenty of them.
Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo were immense in midfield, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt were heroic at the back and Amad Diallo scored another goal in another big game. When they fell behind in the second half, United refused to give in.
Ipswich Town's draw against Fulham earlier in the afternoon meant United had started the match just six points above the bottom three, but if they play anything like that in the remaining games they will steadily move away from any trace of danger.
For the first time in a long time they played like a team their supporters could be proud of. And if there have been moments in recent months when it seemed like Amorim was struggling to reach his players, this was the first sign that they were starting to listen to him. They were the better team here. If anyone deserved to win, it was them.
Liverpool were disappointing. United obviously deserve some of the credit for that, but the home side fell well below the standards they have set this season, even though the match was lit up by a fine goal from Cody Gakpo and a penalty from Mo Salah that provoked an emotional response . Egypt's response.
Liverpool are still six points clear at the top of the Premier League, but this match showed they are not past their vulnerability. The murmurs of discontent over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future grew and could still become a problem for manager Arne Slot, but the leaders still took a point and still produced some stunning moments of football.
However, this was United's day. Especially as they have lost five of their last six games in the league and are 23 points behind Liverpool, having played one more game and not winning at Anfield since January 2016, when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the match . They hadn't even scored here since 2018.
Amorim made changes to United's starting lineup. He didn't have much choice after the way they were cut to pieces by Newcastle last week. He brought on Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes returned from suspension. United may still have lacked inspiration, but their midfield immediately looked stronger.
Amid the noise and fury, it took thirteen minutes for either side to create even a hint of a chance. Alexander-Arnold hit a shot on target and when it was blocked back at him, he squared it for Luis Diaz, who shot high over the bar.
A minute later Liverpool had a better chance. Ryan Gravenberch played a delightful pass into a defender and Cody Gakpo tipped it over Andre Onana as he raced out, just wide of the far post.
Liverpool were spinning now. Salah came forward from the right and floated a delicate cross into the path of Alexis Mac Allister. Mac Allister picked it up on his pass and half-balled it on goal, but it was too close to Onana and he saved it with his legs.
With a delay, United almost scored with their first attack. Diogo Dalot hit offside and escaped via the left. He curled a cross to Amad Diallo, who was alone in the centre, but Dalot's cross was just behind Diallo, who could only direct his header away from goal.
Gravenberch produced a wonderful display of skill in running the ball over him and clearing Mainoo halfway through the United half. He took a few steps forward and unleashed a blistering drive that beat Onana but raced just wide of his right post.
However, United stayed in the game. They did not wither. Mainoo and Ugarte held their own in midfield and despite all the encouragement from the Anfield faithful, there was a cry of dismay as Liverpool's attacks failed.
United should have opened the scoring four minutes before half-time. Rasmus Hojlund managed to break Liverpool's offside trap with a smart run and crossed to Alisson. Hojlund tried to clamp the ball past the goalkeeper, but Alisson came up against him and blocked his shot with his chest. Hojlund stared disconsolately at the turf. He knew he had missed a golden opportunity.
However, the chance was a sign that United's confidence was gradually growing and seven minutes after the break they took the lead their play deserved but few expected they could ever achieve.
Alexander-Arnold's relationship with Liverpool supporters is at a delicate stage as Real Madrid steps up their hunt for his signature and murmurs of criticism have already been directed at him before he gave the ball away on the edge of the Liverpool area.
Fernandes collected the ball and passed Alexander-Arnold with ease before finding Lisandro Martinez with a clever reverse pass. Martinez took a touch and then fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net, in front of the traveling United fans.
Those fans are starved for moments like this and celebrated with wild abandon with their players. Diallo was so ecstatic that he was booked for the magnitude of his exuberant joy.
But United's lead lasted just seven minutes. Gakpo received the ball on the left and allowed De Ligt to sell himself with a hasty, sliding challenge. Gakpo cut through to his right foot and curled a brilliant finish past Onana and into the top corner.
Liverpool finally had some momentum and they were soon able to take advantage of it. Halfway through the half, the ball was tapped into the United box and hit De Ligt's raised hand. Referee Michael Oliver went to the VAR and awarded the penalty.
Salah took it. He ignored lengthy attempts to keep it off Onana and Martinez and buried the ball low to the goalkeeper's left in front of the Kop. Onana had guessed right, but he had no chance of keeping it out.
It was Salah's 21st goal in another excellent individual season and he milked the admiration of the home fans. Salah has said he will not play for Liverpool next season as his contract negotiations reach a stalemate and he is focused on wresting every moment of enjoyment from this season. He sat down on the lawn in front of the Kop and drank in the applause.
Salah has now scored 13 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances against United and the strike takes him to 175 Premier League goals and joint seventh on the all-time list, level with Thierry Henry.
Yet United refused to wither. Those who expected a collapse were sorely disappointed. They attacked again down Liverpool's right and substitute Alejandro Garnacho cut the ball back to Diallo, who turned a low shot past Alisson.
Darwin Nunez was lucky not to be sent off for a shocking challenge on De Ligt before Onana made two excellent saves in quick succession to deny fierce attacks from Diogo Jota and Conor Bradley. Two minutes later, Virgil van Dijk stooped to nod in a corner, but couldn't get enough power from his header.
United should have won the match in the final minute of the seven added minutes when Joshua Zirkzee squared the ball for Maguire, who lifted the ball over the bar from ten yards out with only Alisson to beat. Few outside Liverpool would have begrudged the visitors a win.
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