Liverpool host Man United with the two sides experiencing contrasting seasons.
The Anfield outfit have lost just once all campaign and can go eight points clear at the top of the table if they win.
By contrast, under new boss Ruben Amorim, Man United have suffered five league defeats in six, and after Ipswich’s draw in the early kick-off, sit just six points above the relegation zone.
The Reds will be confident of victory, while the visitors will be hopeful of at least avoiding a humiliation akin to the 7-0 defeat they suffered against their rivals in March 2023.
Having made a sliding tackle, he was caught by the trailing leg of Gravenberch.
It looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
5 Jan
4:37PM
6 mins: Salah puts in a dangerous low cross but Maguire is in the right place to clear it.
As expected, Liverpool have started on the front foot.
5 Jan
4:42PM
10 mins: It’s been a relatively uneventful opening to this game.
United will be pleased with how they have managed to keep Liverpool’s attack quiet so far.
5 Jan
4:45PM
13 mins: Half-chances for Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold and Salah link up down the right.
The former lays it off to Diaz, who blazes a shot over from the edge of the area.
Moments later, Gravenberch slips through Gapko, whose clipped finish from a tight angle goes a few inches wide.
5 Jan
4:48PM
16 mins: Salah plays a lovely lofted through ball for McAllister.
However, the Argentine international’s first-time finish is straight at Onana.
5 Jan
4:53PM
20 mins: Chance for United.
Dalot beats the Liverpool offside trap and runs down the left.
However, the wing-back’s cross is just behind the onrushing Diallo, who can’t get a proper connection on the header and subsequently injures himself by colliding with the goalpost.
5 Jan
4:55PM
24 mins: United continue to expose Liverpool’s right-hand side of the defence.
This time, Højlund finds space, forcing Konate to clear the striker’s low cross out for a corner.
Half-time and it’s been pretty positive from a United perspective.
They have significantly limited Liverpool’s attack in a way few teams have succeeded in doing this season.
The Red Devils also created a couple of decent chances themselves and will feel unlucky not to be ahead at half time.
Liverpool by their standards have been below par.
They haven’t created enough and looked vulnerable defensively, with Alexander-Arnold in particular getting caught out on more than one occasion down their right.
5 Jan
5:28PM
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has given his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold: “There’s talk of him going to Real Madrid. He’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this.”
A better result for United but they will feel they could have won it in the end.
Liverpool will also have regrets.
Their attack came alive in the second half, but some defensive errors and a poor performance from Alexander-Arnold meant they had to settle for a draw.
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As it happened: Liverpool v Man United, Premier League
Liverpool 2-2 Man United
Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog.
Liverpool host Man United with the two sides experiencing contrasting seasons.
The Anfield outfit have lost just once all campaign and can go eight points clear at the top of the table if they win.
By contrast, under new boss Ruben Amorim, Man United have suffered five league defeats in six, and after Ipswich’s draw in the early kick-off, sit just six points above the relegation zone.
The Reds will be confident of victory, while the visitors will be hopeful of at least avoiding a humiliation akin to the 7-0 defeat they suffered against their rivals in March 2023.
Confirmation of the teams below…
Who do you think will win today?
Poll Results:
Some pre-match reading for you…
We’re underway…
2 mins: Mainoo is already receiving treatment.
Having made a sliding tackle, he was caught by the trailing leg of Gravenberch.
It looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
6 mins: Salah puts in a dangerous low cross but Maguire is in the right place to clear it.
As expected, Liverpool have started on the front foot.
10 mins: It’s been a relatively uneventful opening to this game.
United will be pleased with how they have managed to keep Liverpool’s attack quiet so far.
13 mins: Half-chances for Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold and Salah link up down the right.
The former lays it off to Diaz, who blazes a shot over from the edge of the area.
Moments later, Gravenberch slips through Gapko, whose clipped finish from a tight angle goes a few inches wide.
16 mins: Salah plays a lovely lofted through ball for McAllister.
However, the Argentine international’s first-time finish is straight at Onana.
20 mins: Chance for United.
Dalot beats the Liverpool offside trap and runs down the left.
However, the wing-back’s cross is just behind the onrushing Diallo, who can’t get a proper connection on the header and subsequently injures himself by colliding with the goalpost.
24 mins: United continue to expose Liverpool’s right-hand side of the defence.
This time, Højlund finds space, forcing Konate to clear the striker’s low cross out for a corner.
Gravenberch gets away from Mainoo and fires a low shot from distance narrowly wide.
So far, this game has been closer than some people predicted, but Liverpool certainly have had their moments.
39 mins: It’s been a fairly uneventful last few minutes.
Ruben Amorim will be pretty happy with how his side have performed under the circumstances, restricting the hosts to half-chances.
41 mins: Diallo plays an incisive ball for Fernandes.
But the Portuguese international can’t find Højlund with his low cross.
That final ball has been lacking for both sides.
43 mins: A completely unmarked Højlund gets in behind the Liverpool defence after being picked out by a long ball from Martinez.
The Dane doesn’t finish with conviction — Allison gets down to make a relatively comfortable save.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 MAN UNITED
Half-time and it’s been pretty positive from a United perspective.
They have significantly limited Liverpool’s attack in a way few teams have succeeded in doing this season.
The Red Devils also created a couple of decent chances themselves and will feel unlucky not to be ahead at half time.
Liverpool by their standards have been below par.
They haven’t created enough and looked vulnerable defensively, with Alexander-Arnold in particular getting caught out on more than one occasion down their right.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has given his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold: “There’s talk of him going to Real Madrid. He’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this.”
The Cork native is not holding back as usual.
The second half has begun…
48 mins: McAllister’s corner causes panic in the United area.
Onana looks less than convincing as he punches it clear.
Moments later, Dalot gets on the end of a long ball and runs through on goal, but Van Dijk does well to get back and make a last-ditch tackle.
LIVERPOOL 0-1 MAN UNITED (MARTINEZ 52)
Man United take the lead and it’s deserved.
It starts with Alexander-Arnold giving the ball away.
Fernandes then slips through Martinez, who rifles it home powerfully from a tight angle, with Gary Neville comparing the finish to a Ryan Giggs goal.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
57 mins: Liverpool break but Diaz badly overhits a through pass intended for Salah.
The Reds’ attack has looked out of sorts this afternoon.
LIVERPOOL 1-1 MAN UNITED (GAKPO 59)
McAllister, arguably Liverpool’s best player today, puts through Gakpo.
The Dutch international shows great composure, with a touch to take it away from the defender before placing the ball into the far top corner.
The Reds then make a double change — Diaz and Jones are off, Nunez and Jota are on.
Here’s a look at the equaliser…
65 mins: This game has really come to life in the second half.
Both teams look capable of winning it with plenty of chances being created.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
De Ligt is deemed to have his hand in an unnatural position as he blocks a goalbound header.
LIVERPOOL 2-1 MAN UNITED (SALAH 70)
Onana guesses correctly and gets a hand to Salah’s penalty but it’s too powerful to keep out.
That’s the Egyptian’s 18th goal of the season.
72 mins: Man United make an attacking change.
Garnacho replaces Mainoo. That change will see Fernandes drop deeper into midfield.
Here’s a look at that Salah goal…
75 mins: Salah threatens a third, as he curls a free kick from the edge of the area just over.
That earlier strike sees Salah equal Thierry Henry’s 175 Premier League goals.
LIVERPOOL 2-2 MAN UNITED (DIALLO 80)
Liverpool are punished down the right again.
Garnacho puts in a low cross that finds Diallo, whose first-time finish finds the corner of the net.
Alexander-Arnold, who was missing for that moment, has had a day to forget.
84 mins: United make a change.
Yoro replaces De Ligt.
Here’s a look at United’s second goal…
86 mins: More subs.
For Liverpool, Elliott and Bradley replace Gakpo and Alexander-Arnold.
And for United, Zirkzee replaces Hojlund.
90 mins: Nervy moments for United.
Yoro has to make a last-ditch challenge to stop Nunez, before Onana saves from efforts by Jota and Bradley.
There will be seven minutes of stoppage time…
94 mins: A goalbound Salah shot is deflected out for a corner after a good ball to find him by Elliott.
Robertson’s subsequent set piece is cleared.
96 mins: Man United seem happy enough to take their time now.
A draw is a good result for them.
97 mins: Big miss!
Zirkzee finds Maguire in the area, but it’s a defender’s finish, as he can’t keep the ball down with the goal at his mercy.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 2-2 LIVERPOOL
That’s that.
A very entertaining second half.
A better result for United but they will feel they could have won it in the end.
Liverpool will also have regrets.
Their attack came alive in the second half, but some defensive errors and a poor performance from Alexander-Arnold meant they had to settle for a draw.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
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