HERE was everything we thought Manchester United wasn't: proud, resilient, brilliant and, above all, United.
Match report
Of course they had to settle for a point. Certainly, Liverpool remains a firm favorite to equal the record of twenty top-flight titles.
But the way you watched this match, you'd think we were talking about Accrington Stanley's FA Cup visit to Anfield next weekend, and not the biggest game in English football.
Amad Diallo, whose extra-time winner knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in a classic quarter-final last season, stole a point with a cool finish.
United, written off as cannon fodder, deservedly took the lead through a Lisandto Martinez strike early in the second half, before a spectacular Cody Gakpo equalizer and a Mo Salah penalty put Liverpool ahead.
Yet there was a never-say-die attitude at United that we were barely capable of – Harry Maguire magnificent in defence, Manuel Ugarte dynamic in midfield – while Ruben Amorim seemed to discover his best available team.
This after United had suffered four consecutive defeats and failed to score in the previous three.
The club had never felt like such a home banker, the gap between two powerful clubs had not been wider in half a century.
By December, United had lost six games in a calendar month for the first time since 1930. Nobody saw this coming.
Previously it felt like only the weather could stop Liverpool, that only the miserable Merseyside climate could give us the faintest illusion of a title race – after the trip to Goodison Park was called off in the autumn.
But after further missteps from Arsenal and Chelsea on Saturday, Liverpool looked impregnable.
A safety meeting around midday gave this match the go-ahead amid the slowness and ice, which had turned to teeming rain before kick-off.
Amorim had admitted that his side was in the grip of fear and anxiety. The Portuguese does not mince words about the magnitude of the task he faces, even raising the prospect of relegation.
United fans were even concerned about Ipswich's victory at Fulham further closing the gap between their side and the bottom three. It was a measure of their pessimism that they welcomed a late equalizer from Raul Jimenez at Craven Cottage.
Ugarte was back from suspension, with Kobbie Mainoo also returning to midfield.
And United started with a basic competence that few expected from them: they had a fair share of the ball and defended their penalty area with determination.
Gakpo had a clear view of the goal for the first time, but shot wide into the face after Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch combined to put him on the tee.
Salah then produced a beautiful high center, but Alexis Mac Allister's half-volley was blocked at his near post by Andre Onana.
Suddenly United created a brilliant chance after twenty minutes: Diogo Dalot shot down the left and centered for Amad Diallo, who somehow headed in the opposite direction with the goal gaping.
United were under considerable pressure, although Gravenberch galloped forward and pinged the ball just wide from distance.
In the pouring rain and with the odds stacked against him, it felt like a day for Maguire and the England centre-back put himself in a won't-pass mood.
United threatened down the left and when Rasmus Hojlund was released, Alisson rushed from his line to block.
Without a win at Anfield since 2016 and without a goal in five and a half hours, United still went into halftime on a good note.
Liverpool have often come alive after half-time this season, but not this time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – a Galactico-in-waiting who had struggled all afternoon – misplaced a pass to Martinez, who fed Fernandes.
The United captain created an opening before sliding a pass to the Argentine centre-back, who punched in off the underside of the crossbar.
United supporters panicked and cameramen were knocked to the ground amid the noise.
Yet the lead only lasted seven minutes. McAllister fed Gakpo an angled pass and the Liverpool striker cut inside, sent compatriot Matthijs de Ligt for a bag of chips and then smashed into the roof of the net from an angle.
It was a goal of quality, just when Liverpool needed it most.
And when Alexander-Arnold centered from the right, Gakpo headed against the upraised arm of his marker, De Ligt, who completed a miserable few minutes by conceding a penalty – the foul spotted by VAR Chris Kavanagh.
Onana dived to the left and almost saved Salah's penalty, but the Egyptian's effort had too much power.
Amorim showed attacking intentions by sending Alejandro Garnacho to Mainoo.
And the Argentine winger, who has incurred the wrath of Amorim in recent weeks, played a nice cutback for Diallo to send his shot past Alisson.
Conor Bradley was denied by Onana as he fired from a tight angle, but United were well worth their point.
Maguire then had the opportunity to win the ball through a pass from Joshua Zirkzee in the final seconds, but then shot over the bar.
Competition events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Highlight of Liverpool vs Man Utd
2' Mainoo is injured with a head injury
3' Mainoo takes the ball back from Arnold
8' Maguire's long pass does not find the teammate
11' Liverpool fans angry after Ugarte was not shown a yellow card
12' Allison saves excellently
13' A series of blocked shots for Liverpool, allowing Diaz to score well
14' United are lucky after Gakpo's effort is shot just wide
16' GREAT save from Onana as he denies Mac Allister
17' Nice feet from Ugarte to avoid Liverpool's press before Højlund wins a free kick
17' match event for Liverpool vs Man Utd
20' Dalot crosses to Amad, but his header goes backwards and he is in pain
22' Maguire's attempted header is blocked, but he is offside
23' Yellow card! Dalot booked
28' Great defense from Man utd
29' Gravernberch shoots wide
29' Highlight of Liverpool vs Man Utd
40' Amad passes Fernandes through, but the captain cannot find Højlund
42' CLOSE! Højlund denied
43' Salah shoots well over the bar
45' Great chance Luis Diaz!
48' Great save from Onana!
49' Dalot does well before his shot/cross is blocked
50' Cross from Amad
52' LISANDRO MARTINEZ WITH AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET! WHAT A HIT! Liverpool 0-1 Man Utd
59' CODY GAKPO CUT IN AND HIT AN EQUALIZER! Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
61' Jota and Nunez continue
64' Yellow card! De Ligt booked
66' Mac Allister shoots too high
70' MO SALAH HAS GIVED LIVERPOOL THE LEAD!! Liverpool 2-1 Man Utd (Salah)
72' sub: Garnacho ON; Mainoo OUT
73' Yellow card! Maguire booked
75' Great free kick from Salah
77' Yellow card! Darwin Núñez booked
79' Highlight of Liverpool vs Man Utd
80' DIALLO QUIETS THE LIVERPOOL FANS AGAIN Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd
82' match event for Liverpool vs Man Utd
Setups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister, Luis Díaz, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch
Subs: W. Endo, Tsimikas, Jota, Kelleher, Chiesa, Darwin Núñez, Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley
Man Utd XI: Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Martinez, Amad Diallo Traore, Rasmus Højlund, Kobbie Mainoo
Subs: Eriksen, Casemiro, Altay Bayındır, Tyrell Malacia, Joshua Zirkzee, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Toby Collyer, Leny Yoro
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