Want to understand the biggest story of the day before anyone else? Sign up here for our great new daily newsletter
Three weeks after their classic seven-goal FA Cup encounter, Liverpool and Manchester United met again – and once again, we had fun.
Although this competition resulted in Just Four goals, Liverpool could have scored more in the first half alone, wasting numerous chances as United failed to get any effort past Caoimhin Kelleher.
But, as they did in the cup, United made their opponents pay for their profligacy as Bruno Fernandes scored from 40 yards with an excellent finish first time after Jarrell Quansah had misplaced a pass, leaving Kelleher stranded. Kobe Mainu, as he has done before, stepped up to challenge his 18-year-old and put United ahead.
Jurgen Klopp's side should have been out of sight by half-time, but instead, they left with a point following a late Mohamed Salah penalty and now sit behind Premier League leaders Arsenal on goal difference with seven games to play.
Our writers Andy Jones, Karl Anka and Ahmed Walid provide their spot-on analysis of the match.
What happened to Fernandes' goal?
Quansa has been a revelation for Liverpool this season.
The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan to Premier League side Bristol Rovers. Few expected him to be thrust into the spotlight this season, but every test he faced he passed with flying colours.
That was until he misjudged a simple square pass to Virgil van Dijk. Fernandes capitalized and fired a first-time shot past Kelleher and leveled the scores with United's first shot of the game.
Up to that point, this was yet another performance from a young man who looked as if he had played at the highest level for years. He was part of the defense which left United's attackers feeding on splinters.
It's unfair to blame a youngster playing just his 11th Premier League game – away at Old Trafford, no less – for the final result, but it was his mistake that cost Liverpool a goal.
Those with more experience in attacking areas were unable to save him due to their poor decision-making in front of goal. To his credit, Quansah put the mistake behind him and continued to perform defensively as he had done all along.
It's a mistake from a young player who doesn't deserve to decide the title race. However, after the final seven games of the season, this could be a defining moment.
Andy Jones
How does this compare to the FA Cup chaos?
Any chance of a compact, composed performance from either side went down the drain when Alejandro dribbled past Jarnacho Kelleher to score in the opening 100 seconds.
the 'The goal was disallowed for offside, but the message was clear: we were going to get more counter-attacking silliness from the 4-3 scoreline on 17 March.
Ten Hag's plan seemed to revolve around catching Liverpool cold and scoring early… except Liverpool held their nerve and eventually got the opener in the 23rd minute. United's reaction after falling behind by a goal? More chaos.
In a team containing the likes of Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, it makes sense to abandon organized, stable possession and try to beat Liverpool on the break. What has made these last two encounters interesting is Liverpool's repeated and bizarre failures on the counter-attack – and Jurgen Klopp's exasperated behavior when United score a goal out of nowhere.
Fernandes has no right to take a slow back pass and fire the ball at Kelleher from about 40 yards out. Maino was able to have the presence of mind to wave Garnacho off the ball so he could be the one to turn, shoot and score United's second goal, which was one piece of great control in a chaotic environment.
Stats people will tell you United scored twice on low shots and such actions are rarely repeatable or sustainable. But sometimes the emotional narrative of a game can overpower the tactical demands. Ten Hag's men appeared to have stunned Liverpool in chaotic conditions twice – before Aaron Wan-Bissaka brought down Harvey Elliott in the penalty area.
Salah scored the resulting penalty and Ten Hag responded by introducing Mason Mount.
There may come a day when United and Liverpool matches turn into the “tactically interesting” chess matches that Manchester City and Arsenal are now playing. But let's hope they're a little further out of line.
This counterattack melee is a lot of fun. Football is for people who should know better, but can't help themselves.
Go deeper
The Premier League has turned into a football stadium – which is great
Karl Anka
Liverpool is wasting opportunities, will this develop into a problem?
Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai threw their heads back in frustration. The duo were well placed in the middle of the box ready to pull back, but Connor Bradley elected to shoot. He was blocked and went out into the corner.
He personified Liverpool in front of goal in the first half: great football that led to plenty of chances but no progress in United's penalty area.
It boiled down to the fact that their only goal in the first half came from a free kick. They had 15 shots but only four on target, with 88 passes in the final third and 21 touches in the opposition penalty area. He told the whole story.
However, whether it was Szoboszlai, Salah, Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz, Liverpool were wasting too much open play – just as was the case last month.
(Sean Botterill/Getty Images)
With every opportunity passed by the visitors, thoughts returned to the FA Cup match when Liverpool should have increased their lead 2-1. Despite their dominance and chances, they were unable to eliminate Erik ten Hag's side, and that proved costly.
Minutes after Fernandes' goal, Liverpool found themselves in a five-on-two attacking situation in their favour. In similar fashion to the break in the FA Cup match, they failed to get a shot on target from it.
Liverpool completely lost their way when Maino scored United's second goal. Salah's penalty might have saved a point, but RThe supposed lessons of the cup tie have yet to be learned.
Andy Jones
When will Manchester United learn to defend turnovers?
Last summer, Ten Hag wanted United to be the best transfer team in the world. The concept made sense given the profile of United's strikers. “We really looked into the history of Manchester United and also looked at the qualities of our players,” Ten Hag said. “Then you can say, 'What do we want to be? That is, we want to be the best transitional team in the world. We want to surprise.'
However, to be the best transitional team in the world, you also need to know how to defend these situations – it's not just about getting excited and attacking space, especially when you're facing a Liverpool side that thrives on this type of attack. Game.
In this match, United's problems with defensive transitions were quite evident: rushing into possession, which leads to poor defending due to the large spacing between attackers and defenders when United try to attack with constant possession, unable to win. Doubles in midfield, and the level of counter-pressure decreased compared to last season.
To be the best transition team in the world, you have to know how to attack them as well as defend them.
Ahmed Waleed
How did United's other makeshift defense fare?
The back four of Diogo Dalot, Willy Kambwala, Harry Maguire and Wan-Bissaka have featured in United's 26th different defensive line-up this season.
Before kick-off, Ten Hag said he was not interested in questions about United's style of play, saying: “We want to dominate on and off the pitch, and play from the back.”
The problem with a quote like this is:
1) This description can be used to describe multiple teams in the English Premier League.
2) United don't seem to be controlling the game on both sides of the ball.
3) Many teams – including Liverpool – appear to be better at implementing these measures.
United play with a narrow and ineffective forward pressing, and a man-marking system in midfield that can be easily exploited. Compounding matters is their rudimentary approach to corner kicks that live and die depending on whether a United player can make first contact with the ball.
Go deeper
Premier League clubs have entered a golden era of backdoor goals
Nunez bullied Wan-Bissaka just before the penalty to get the assist for Diaz to score. A look at the image below will show you that Nunez's header was in an area that many teams target when playing United.
In the 32nd minute, Alexis McAllister carried the ball towards the halfway line while Liverpool's attackers pushed forward. The midfielder's pass found Diaz, who passed it to Salah.
It takes a few seconds and a handful of passes for opposition teams to go from the defensive third to shooting Andre Onana. This is the 10th time United have faced 10 or more shots in the first half of a Premier League match, the most in the 2023-24 season.
Sharing defensive stats with Sheffield United and Luton Town (12 times) is not what any United fan envisioned at the start of the season. Ten Hag will point to the injuries that affected his team's ability to play to their best. Pundits will wonder why it is difficult for the United manager to muster anything better than this.
The sight of Dalot making another powerful run into his own penalty area made you cringe. United are playing with little of the collective safety net provided by the top four or five teams, and their defenders are largely left to fend for themselves.
Karl Anka
What did Jurgen Klopp say?
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said in statements to Sky Sports: “In the end, we should have won the match. That is clear. We controlled the match and scored the first goal.
“We should have scored more goals in the first half. They had no shots at all in the first half.
“It's a point at Manchester United. I know how people will see it. Two points lost and stuff. For me, we have a point more than we had before the game.
“It's an away game against Manchester United. For us, away games are more special for all the other teams. For us (Liverpool), they (Manchester United) have introduced an extra shift.”
What did Erik ten Hag say?
Ten Hag discussed his team's playing style after the match and was asked if he would change it. he said no”. “Obviously when you play Chelsea, when you play Liverpool it will be a transitional game. They are at the top, both teams. Both teams want to play and will leave space for others.
“I thought there were moments where we could have made better reactions in defensive transitions, but overall we gave a very good performance. We only conceded two goals from two sets. In our transitions, we could have done better – for example (Alejandro) Garnacho And Bruno. Already after a few minutes we should have taken the initiative.
“I'm always looking for better defense while I'm resting,” he added. “Are our decisions on the ball better? Go towards goal, be direct or keep the ball, otherwise we'll stretch the field. Then it's about how we use it, looking for reactions. Behavior of the players. What positions will we take?”
Go deeper
Ten Hag is still searching for answers to the problems in United's attacking third
What's next for Manchester United?
Saturday 13 April: Bournemouth (away), Premier League, 5.30pm UK time, 12.30pm ET
What's next for Liverpool?
Thursday 11 April: Atalanta (H), Europa League, 8pm GMT, 3pm ET
Suggestions for reading
(Top image: Getty Images)
“Food ninja. Friendly thinker. Explorer. Entrepreneur. Zombie junkie.