Premier League
Diallo earns Man Utd deserved draw at Liverpool
Amad Diallo struck a late equaliser as Manchester United made a mockery of their recent form to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
It looked as though Ruben Amorim’s United would go home empty-handed despite a vastly-improved display but Diallo swept in a shot in the 80th minute to earn his side a point.
United had gone ahead in the 52nd minute when Lisandro Martinez powered home a ferocious shot from a tight angle.
But an off-key Liverpool responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo curling home a stunning equaliser before Mohamed Salah put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
After Diallo’s leveller both sides had chances to win in a frantic finale with United’s Harry Maguire spooning a glorious chance over the crossbar with the last kick of the game.
As the fans made for the exits on a freezing afternoon it was United’s who were happiest after watching a display that offered hope of better things to come in 2025.
Liverpool remain in control of the title race with 46 points from 19 games, six ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand as they seek to equal United’s 20 English crowns. United moved up a place to 13th with 23 points.
Based on the current form and confidence levels of the two teams, many of the United fans who made the trip on a grim afternoon might have feared a mauling similar to March 2023 when a rampant Liverpool put seven goals past their arch-rivals.
United had lost five of their last six league games and relegation has even been aired as a possibility.
But Amorim’s side produced a courageous display as they went toe to toe with Liverpool.
Luis Diaz fired over for the hosts early on and Alexis Mac Allister was then denied by United keeper Andre Onana.
Ryan Gravenberch was also a whisker away from giving Liverpool the lead with a shot that skimmed off the saturated surface and flew past the post.
But United were not about to lie down and take their punishment. They breached Liverpool’s high line with ease and on one occasion Diogo Dalot was released down the left and his cross was inviting for Amad Diallo but he mistimed his header.
Rasmus Hojlund should have done better before the break but shot straight at Alisson.
United’s positivity was rewarded soon after the interval as Trent Alexander-Arnold, poor all game, gave the ball away and Bruno Fernandes picked out Martinez to lash an unstoppable shot past Alisson.
Slot’s Liverpool looked disjointed but hit back in stunning fashion as Mac Allister slid a pass to Gakpo down the left and he cut back inside to curl a shot beyond Onana.
The game was then turned on its head as Matthijs de Ligt blocked a header with his arm and after a VAR check referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and Salah did the rest, beating Onana who dived the correct way.
United were not finished though and substitute Alejandro Garnacho crossed low for Diallo to stroke home.
-Reuters
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Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against leaders Liverpool at Anfield because of illness, head coach Ruben Amorim said.
The 27-year-old Rashford was left out of the squad for four straight matches before being named on the bench for their game against Newcastle United, which Amorim’s side lost 2-0 at Old Trafford on Monday.
Rashford, however, did not play a single minute against Newcastle.
With five losses in their last six league games, United languished 14th in the standings with 22 points from 19 matches, which was their worst placing to end a calendar year since they were 15th in 1989.
“It’s the same situation, at the moment he is ill. He is not training,” Amorim told reporters ahead of the game.
Amorim initially left Rashford out for the 2-1 derby win at Manchester City on Dec. 15, two days before the England international said he was “ready for a new challenge” after having been at United since the age of seven.
Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since making his senior debut for the club in 2016, winning the Europa League, two FA Cups and the League Cup twice.
“We will see in the future but this is like a normal player, then I make a selection. So, it’s the same. I think he is going to be out, this week he is out,” Amorim said.
-Reuters
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was responsible for his side’s underwhelming form this season, in which they have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games.
The run of poor form has left the reigning champions sixth in the standings with 31 points from 19 matches, 14 fewer than leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
City’s campaign has been hindered by a rash of injuries, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, goalkeeper Ederson, as well as defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias among those sidelined.
“There are many, many things and I missed something – something I am not doing well,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home game against 13th-placed West Ham United.
“In the end, when you lose a lot of games, it is an incredible responsibility for the manager to take. There is something the team needs and confidence, and I was not able to do it.
“The call is on me first, it’s not the players. They naturally drop a little bit and that is normal. It happened a little bit last season as well.
“I blame (myself). It’s not to say, ‘Oh, how nice is Pep’ – it’s the truth. I led that group of players and I could not lift them. This is the reality.”
Guardiola’s side will look to make it two wins on Saturday after beating relegation-threatened Leicester City 2-0 last weekend.
-Reuters
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After going on a disastrous run of five defeats in six matches,
Manchester United manager Rubén Amorim has reportedly opened a book containing the list of players to be disposed of to reverse the club’s dwindling fortunes.
Among those to be off-loaded, is Joshua Zirzkee who was substituted after 33 minutes in their defeat by Newcastle.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are also believed to be in the ‘black book. ‘
Amorim has already declared Marcus Rashford as transferable.
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