Liverpool dropped their first points of the Premier League season when a draw at Manchester United ended their incredible run of 17 successive league victories that began in March. Even with Manchester City winning at Crystal Palace, substitute Adam Lallana’s late equalizing goal – the first he has scored in Premier League play since May 2017 – means the Reds remain six points clear of their second-placed rivals. This is quite a large margin this early in the season. Meanwhile, United is in a shocking 14th place. “A win would have been great, but a draw is a step in the right direction,” the United manager said.
United came into the game hoping the their performance would improve significantly on their recent outings. This run of play had left manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure. Solskjaer is, however, the only manager Jürgen Klopp has faced in the Premier League more than once without recording victory.
Liverpool’s inability to find 3 points at Old Trafford over the last decade was never more likely to come end than on Sunday. Despite eking out the point, Liverpool may have felt frustrated at having a finish from Sadio Mane ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee for handball.
It was Marcus Rashford’s well timed volley of a lovely cross from the surprisingly brilliant Daniel James placed United in the drivers seat of the eventual draw. Operating as a duo up top, the two aforementioned Red Devils continually tested the near mythical Liverpool defense with frequent and dangerous runs that just never resulted in the much needed brace.
Many United fans appreciate getting a point out of this year’s toughest fixture, especially considering their recent form. As a fan of the Red Devils, watching a club with the rich attacking history of United play cowardly low block football against a rival at home created a sense of misery that a meager point simply can’t fix. Speaking of insufficient fixes, United head man Ed Woodward will use this result as evidence against the club’s partisan pessimists. Yet parking the bus at home to earn a point and evade the relegation zone is far more befitting of a club like Southampton than the once glorious Manchester United.
Ultimately, a point against a league leader is never a bad result but the tactical simplicity of Solskaer’s United was on full display. More must be done if United want to be considered a top 4 club and the January transfer window may represent the only chance United have of adding some quality to prevent another middling season.
