FLOPS AND KOPS
Liverpool produced their worst performance of the season but United couldn’t take advantage and were hanging on in the end
THE away end celebrated at the final whistle as if they had won the title.
The reality is results such as this point to Liverpool doing just that in May.
Champions never give up, and that was Liverpool’s greatest strength yesterday.
This was by some distance their worst performance of the season, yet the brutal truth was Manchester United at their best were still not good enough to beat them.
That underlined the gulf between the teams and showed why Liverpool are six points clear at the top and why United are struggling.
United fans would happily have taken a point before kick-off but know this was a chance wasted, even if they can take a lot of heart from the performance.
Jurgen Klopp left Old Trafford angry after the latest VAR row, yet hugely relieved at somehow getting a barelydeserved draw, which said everything about his team’s spirit.
Whether Klopp likes it or not, VAR got it right. Referee Martin Atkinson did not make a clear and obvious error in deciding Victor Lindelof had not fouled Liverpool’s Divock Origi in the build-up to United’s opener, while Sadio Mane’s effort was correctly ruled out for handball.
In contrast, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) will feel frustrated because a gritty and battling display, full of heart and passion, was undone with five minutes to play.
United did, however, end Liverpool’s 17-game winning streak in the league and stop them equalling Manchester City’s record.
Yet this was far removed from everything that had gone before, with Liverpool sloppy in a first half where they struggled to string passes together and, without Mo Salah up front, lacked any rhythm.
In contrast United chased, harried and scrapped. Marcus Rashford was brilliant, chasing every ball up front ,and Daniel James was full of running and support. Harry Maguire stood like a beacon in the back three, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka was excellent on the right.
United’s energy and fight stopped Liverpool. Their fullbacks Trent AlexanderArnold and Andy Robertson are normally such a good outlet, yet even they were pinned back.
Liverpool wasted a glorious chance on 34 minutes when Mane’s cross found Roberto Firmino but he fired tamely at keeper David de Gea. They
were made to pay two minutes later. Lindelof won the ball in a tussle with Origi, Scott McTominay played it to James and his brilliant cross was turned home by Rashford.
Klopp was furious and claimed Lindelof fouled Origi. He probably did. But it was debatable rather than a clear mistake.
Should the VAR guidelines be changed? Should referees make the final decision after watching video monitors on the touchline? Probably. But the VAR rules were adhered to and the goal stood.
To rub salt into the wounds, Liverpool had a goal ruled out by VAR on 43 minutes.
Joel Matip’s long pass found Mane and the ball brushed his hand as he tangled with Lindelof before beating De Gea.
Liverpool improved and United tired as they were unable to put the game to bed, Rashford coming closest with a shot which whistled just wide.
Klopp’s substitutions were excellent. Alex OxladeChamberlain, Naby Keita and, most of all, Adam Lallana made a difference.
In the 85th minute, Keita found Robertson on the left and, for what felt like the first time, he had space to put over a cross. Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young failed to deal with it and Lallana stormed in to score at the back post.
It was Lallana’s first goal since May 2017 and may prove be one of the most important and defining of Liverpool’s season.