It was another Kobbie Mainoo show as Manchester United held Liverpool to a dramatic 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
Manchester United initially showed signs of a competitive performance, matching Liverpool’s incessant attacking onslaught with speedy counters and strong defensive play.
United’s strong start to the game saw the hosts find the back of the net in 65 seconds after a quick counter. Picking a pass from the middle, Alejandro raced into the Liverpool box and rounded off Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to score but the goal was chalked off as offside.
After Garnacho’s disallowed goal, Liverpool began to exert control over proceedings, and it was just a matter of time before the Reds put United to the sword.
In the 23rd minute, the Jurgen Klopp-led side took a deserved lead. Robertson had delivered an inswinger from a corner. Darwin Nunez went ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and flicked it with a header towards the near post. Luis Diaz was left unmarked and he volleyed it into the net with an acrobatic finish.
The goal was enough to send the Reds to the break with the lead.
United started the second half on a stronger note but struggled to mount a formidable attacking response, unlike their opponents.
Luckily, they finally found a reprieve. Liverpool defender Quansah had attempted a back pass but had the ball intercepted by Bruno Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Caohmin Kelleher had come out of the box and Bruno Fernandes wasted no time lifting a long shot from close to the center circle to score a long-range goal.
After Bruno Fernandes’ goal, Liverpool ramped up attempts to return to the lead but were dealt a heavy blow when Stockport-born England youngster Kobbie Mainoo scored a stunner in the 67th minute against the run of the play to race United into the lead.
The home side were en route to an unlikely victory with the 2-1 lead before Liverpool found their way back to the game again through Salah’s spot-kick goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded the penalty when he clipped down Harvey Elliot in the box and Salah made no mistake as he wrong-footed Andre Onana to restore parity with six minutes of regulation time left.
The visitors exerted more pressure in the final minutes, trying to eke out a win but United held on to salvage a point.
It ended 2-2 at the final whistle with both sides sharing spoils. Liverpool have now dropped from the Premier League top with the draw but are the same points (67) as Arsenal, who are top of the table courtesy of a superior goal difference.
