Match report
Both teams will probably feel disappointed after this match, Manchester United because an incoherent performance prevented them from underlining their recent improvement under Jose Mourinho with a win over one of their rivals, Liverpool because failing to hold on means they have lost further ground on Chelsea in the title race. James Milner’s early penalty was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late equaliser and neither side really did enough to win it. If the top four is the target, however, a draw arguably suits Liverpool more, even though they and Tottenham are seven points behind Chelsea. Without several key players, a point moves them three clear of Manchester City in fifth place and five clear of United in sixth. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye.
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Full-time: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool
That’s your lot!
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90 min+2: Liverpool cleverly work the ball to Firmino on the edge of the area, Coutinho creating the opening, and the Brazilian shuffles it on to the left for the unmarked Wijnaldum. Is this to be the winner? No. He shoots tamely at De Gea.
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90 min: Fooled by Firmino in the middle, Herrera Mourinhos the counterattack by tugging the Brazilian’s shirt. Firmino responds by foolishly pushing Herrera in the chest. The Spaniard holds his face. But of course. They’re both booked. There will be four minutes of added time. Either side could win this.
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89 min: The anticipated onslaught from Manchester United is yet to quite materialise. Liverpool have responded well to the equaliser.
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87 min: At least the cross that led to Fellaini’s header didn’t come from a player who could have been sent off, so we shouldn’t hear too much about the officials in the press conferences. Hooray!
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86 min: It hadn’t exactly been coming from Manchester United, but Liverpool haven’t quite been able to kill this game off and you always sensed they might be vulnerable in the air. Mourinho will be delighted with how that substitution turned out and it’s more evidence of United’s growing never say die spirit.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (Ibrahimovic, 84 min)
Antonio Valencia, who might be a shade offside, lifts a cross into the Liverpool area from the right. It falls to Rooney on the left and this time he manages to squeeze a cross towards the near post, where Marouane Fellaini’s presence causes the havoc that Jose Mourinho was anticipating when he threw him on. Fellaini’s clever header, the ball brushing off his curly hair, drifts over the surprised Mignolet, but hits the bottom of the far post. No matter, though, because Valencia hoicks it back to Ibrahimovic, who brilliantly manages to steer his header over Mignolet, off the underside of the bar and over the line!
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83 min: Klavan pulls out of a challenge with Fellaini in the middle of United’s half, drawing a furious reaction from Klopp, but Rooney can’t force his way past Alexander-Arnold on the left.
82 min: Rooney forces Mignolet to make a stunning save with a fierce volley, but the flag’s up for offside as soon as Ibrahimovic’s header reaches him. He was being played on by Alexander-Arnold.
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80 min: Samuele Allardici would approve of Jose Mourinho’s long-ball tactics here.
78 min: Manchester United have started to toss high ball’s from deep positions into Liverpool’s area now.
76 min: Manchester United make their final change, Marouane Fellaini on for Matteo Darmian. Liverpool will be steeling themselves for an aerial bombardment, although it will probably please them that Marcus Rashford won’t be appearing today.
75 min: A lame attempt at a backheel from Pogba concedes possession on the left and prompts a rapid Liverpool break. Can whips a fine cross to the far post, the ball drifting over Jones, and Wijnaldum nuts a fine chance over the bar.
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73 min: Milner limped off for a while, but he seems to have recovered sufficiently to continue. That was such a poor challenge from Rooney, who could have broken Milner’s ankle by stamping down on it.
70 min: James Milner is down and in need of medical attention after Wayne Rooney went into a 50-50 challenge with boot high, stamping his studs into the Liverpool full-back’s shin. Rooney is extremely fortunate to escape without a card. Imagine if Mike Dean was reffing this game!
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66 min: Liverpool are beginning to enjoy decent spells of possession in United’s half again, with Coutinho pulling a few strings and the tension rising amongst the home supporters. As United’s anxiety grows, a spot of pinball in their area leads to a half chance for Lallana, who spins and shoots too near De Gea, who saves down to his right.
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65 min: Rooney receives the ball on the edge of the area, shifts it to work a shooting opportunity and dribbles one well wide of the right post. That’s the cue for Juan Mata to replace Anthony Martial.
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63 min: The introduction of Coutinho has given Liverpool an almighty boost. Liverpool counter again and he pops up unmarked on the left once more. He looks to curl one into the top corner with his right foot, but his shot takes a deflection and De Gea prevents a corner.
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61 min: Liverpool bring on Philippe Coutinho for Divock Origi. The Brazilian makes an instant impact after finding space on the left, dribbling inside, teasing United, prising them open with a gloriously disguised reverse pass to Firmino, who opens up his body and aims for the far corner. De Gea pushes his shot away.
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60 min: Pogba’s effort from 25 yards flies miles wide. Juan Mata is getting ready to come on.
59 min: United have increased the intensity of their play and have pinned Liverpool back. Liverpool haven’t been out of their half for a while.
57 min: Rooney has injected some urgency into United’s attack since his introduction and now he barrels down the right, but his cross from the byline is straight at Mignolet.
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55 min: United should be level. Alexander-Arnold plays himself into trouble, allowing Martial to rob him on the halfway line and start a United counterattack. Mkhitaryan’s in acres of space on the right and they find him. His touch is heavy, though, enabling Mignolet to close him down and although Mkhitaryan prods it round the Liverpool goalkeeper, the shot’s rushed, off target and struck too sharply for Martial or Rooney to tap into an empty net.
52 min: “Pogba’s hair reminds me of when I was 10 and decided to emulate Taribo West’s distinctive look by sticking pieces of green chewing gum throughout my hair,” says Conal Huetter. “I just hope Pogba’s mother is equally aghast as mine was.”
51 min: Rooney receives the ball with his back to goal on the left, before turning and driving a cross into the middle. It’s a good idea and a dangerous ball, but Milner boots it clear. Liverpool are under pressure, though, and Origi gives away a free-kick for pushing Valencia on the right. They survive, though.
49 min: Lovren is still Pogba’s man, but the United midfielder wins this duel. He heads it away from danger and United end up with a free-kick after a foul by Can.
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48 min: Liverpool have been positive since the restart and they break menacingly here, Firmino finding Origi on the left. He cuts inside and lets rip with his right foot, only for a deflection off Jones to take his fierce drive a few yards wide. Liverpool have a corner. Will Pogba, who struggled so much in the first half, be marking Lovren?
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46 min: Off we go again, Manchester United getting the second half underway. The next 45 minutes could define the rest of the season for both sides. Recognising that, Manchester United have made a signifcant change. Wayne Rooney, one short of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record, is on for Michael Carrick. I smell a narrative.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool
A flawed but engrossing first half draws to a close and Liverpool lead thanks to James Milner’s penalty, awarded thanks to a monumentally stupid handball by Paul Pogba. This isn’t over, though. Manchester United have had chances and they may well take one if they continue to open Liverpool up.
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45 min+1: Alexander-Arnold impetuously sells himself and needlessly goes to ground as he tries to intercept a pass, allowing Martial to skip past him, but Lovren spares his young defensive colleague by intercepting the United winger’s attempted through ball to Pogba.
45 min: There will be one minute of added time.
43 min: A free-kick to Liverpool on the left. Milner lifts it high to the far post and again Lovren unsettles United, pulling away and cushioning a volley into the middle. United unconvincingly get it behind at the expense of a corner. Milner whips it in again but Michael Oliver awards a free-kick to United for pushing this time.
41 min: Klavan decides to step up as Mkhitaryan races clean through on goal, Liverpool’s offside trap malfunctioning badly, but the Armenian’s effort is too close to Mignolet, who makes a comfortable enough save. No United player is on hand to tap in the rebound and Klavan mops up.
39 min: Origi bustles past a nervy Rojo, who was the last man, and tries to run clear for a confrontation with De Gea. Rojo being Rojo, he looks extremely tempted to bring Origi down with a clumsy foul. As it turns out, though, he does enough to hold Origi up with by getting as close to him as possible without conceding a foul. Origi holds it up and waits for support, but Can and Lallana can’t get shots away and United survive.
37 min: Pogba is in the horrible position of trying too hard to rectify his mistake now. He’s overelaborating every time he gets the ball and keeps losing it.
36 min: Another corner, this time to United on the right. Mkhitaryan’s cross comes to nothing, though. “Not sure what Pogba was doing there,” says JR in Illinois. “Also not sure what he’s doing with his hairdo. Why a yellow stripe? Is he trying to colour-coordinate with Liverpool’s strip? Seems an odd choice.”
35 min: Origi goes on a foray down the left and wins a corner for Liverpool. Pogba might be advised to stay well away from United’s area this time. He’s in the mix again, though. Luckily for United, Milner’s corner is too close to De Gea.
33 min: Ibrahimovic lines up the free-kick and manages to hammer it low and hard past the wall, as expected, but Mignolet responds superbly, diving to his right to push the ball away for a corner. That’s an excellent save. Liverpool need to calm down. They do so by dealing with the corner.
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32 min: Mkhitaryan’s corner from the right’s headed away at the near post by Klavan but Herrera seizes on the loose ball in front of the dozy Origi, who brings him down on the edge of the area! That was so close to being a penalty, but this is still a magnificent opportunity for Manchester United to equalise. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will fancy his chances. The free-kick is 18 yards from goal and in a central position.
31 min: Lovren tackles Ibrahimovic well before lunging into a challenge with Martial as he tries to win the second ball. He catches Martial and United’s players instantly crowd Michael Oliver, trying to get Lovren sent off, but unfortunately Mike Dean isn’t the referee today. Lovren’s booked and United win a corner from the resulting free-kick.
29 min: Old Trafford is stunned, save for the noisy pocket of Liverpool fans in the away end. They’re making all the noise now. What a gift from one of the most expensive players in the world, though!
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool (Milner pen, 27 min)
James Milner shows no nerves in front of the Stretford End, confidently slamming his penalty to the left of De Gea with his right foot. The goalkeeper went the right way, but he couldn’t get close to it and Liverpool lead!
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PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
26 min: Milner swings the corner high into the area and Paul Pogba, who has looked defensively iffy at set pieces so far, jumps and clearly handles it! Michael Oliver points to the spot!
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25 min: Jones dallies for no good reason as Firmino presses him near United’s area, but he just about manages to stop the Brazilian from bursting clear on goal. Lallana was always lurking with intent and Rojo was out of position. But Liverpool do win a corner. And...
24 min: Liverpool have woken up a bit in the last few minutes. Can and Henderson link up neatly in midfield, the latter dodging a couple of challenges before hoisting a ball from left to right over the top of the United defence for Alexander-Arnold, who’s peeled behind Martial. His first touch is good, setting him up for a shot with his left foot, but Martial recovers to block it.
23 min: Origi embarks on an adventure down the right, doing well to win a free-kick for Liverpool. It’s sent to the far post and Lovren rises above Pogba to head the ball back across goal. Eventually the ball drops to Origi, 15 yards out and unmarked, but he snatches at his shot and it dribbles through to De Gea. He might have done better.
21 min: United are beginning to gather momentum. Mkhitaryan charges down the right this time, but his cross is too close to Mignolet. Liverpool are beginning to come under sustained pressure.
19 min: Liverpool enjoy their second lucky escape in the space of a minute! Mkhitaryan drifts inside menacingly for the first time, Liverpool granting him too much space, and he spots a surging run through the middle from Pogba, picking him out with a fine pass. Pogba has a clear sight of goal and you would expect him to score, but he pulls the ball past Simon Mignolet and the left post with his left foot.
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18 min: Pogba dithers on the ball in his own half, allowing Can to swamp him and win it on Liverpool’s behalf. With United exposed and the visitors in a promising position, Can advances and slides a pass to Firmino on the right, forcing him wide. Firmino has Lallana and Origi to pick out in the middle, but his cross is poor and the move dies a sad death when Alexander-Arnold blooters his delivery over for a goal-kick. Soon United are threatening, although it’s all of Liverpool’s doing. Lovren’s slightly weak backpass to Mignolet alerts Ibrahimovic, who charges down the goalkeeper’s tentative clearance and sees the ball fly on the roof of the unguarded net.
15 min: Jose Mourinho is scrawling some thoughts down on a notepad. It could be a shopping list.
1. Coffee.
13 min: Martial causes more problems for Liverpool on the left, running at Alexander-Arnold for the first time and cutting inside before lifting a cross towards Ibrahimovic at the far post. Mignolet looks uncertain under the high ball, but Ibrahimovic can’t bring it under his spell and it all ends with a Liverpool goal-kick. “I hope Klopp wasn’t offered a Baldrick coffee,” says John Forrest. “That would ruin your mood.”
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12 min: A loose ball breaks to Martial on the edge of the area and he beats one man with a sublime piece of skill before going to ground under a nothing challenge from Lovren. Michael Oliver isn’t interested in his hopeful plea for a penalty.
11 min: Klavan emulates his central defensive partner by kerblamming another pass out for a throw. There wasn’t a Liverpool player within 20 yards of that ball.
10 min: There have been a lot of fouls. The pace is frenetic, the quality low at the moment. There’s a lot of nervous energy out there.
8 min: It’s been a scrappy start, neither side able to string too many passes together, and Lovren puts his team under pressure by pinging one straight out of play from right to left, much to the amusement of the home fans. This hasn’t settled down yet.
7 min: “It’s a cold Sunday morning here in Norther California,” says Peter Oh. “I’ve just thumbed my nose at the stash of tea and am brewing a proper pot of coffee. Come on you Reds! It’s hard to predict what will happen but based on recent form one thing is for sure: Rojo will fly into a two-footed tackle from behind but will once again escape seeing rojo (that’s red in Spanish). My coffee isn’t bitter.”
Mine apparently has “notes of chocolate and macadamia”.
4 min: Milner’s deep corner towards the far post is claimed by De Gea confidently. “The mind games Man U are playing seem so half-arsed and too overt,” says Kelvin. “They should have opened the sprinklers while they players were warming up, and then switched off the heating in the visitors dressing room. Maybe even added a blast of cold air via the air-con.”
Winding someone up with an unwanted cup of tea seems a quintessentially English thing to do. Was Klopp offered stale biscuits too?
3 min: Origi makes an early impact, muscling his way into the area from the left, reaching the byline before running out of room. He could have found Lallana, who’s annoyed that he didn’t, but took too long. Still, they have a corner on the left.
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2 min: Liverpool have lined up in a diamond system here, with Adam Lallana in the No10 role and Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi together in attack. Could that leave Trent Alexander-Arnold exposed against Anthony Martial? “Unfortunately for Liverpool, they are playing United,” says Gerrard Catesby. “That means, based on recent trends, an offside goal and a false penalty. The lack of Matip means that Liverpool are therefore 3-0 down. However, FT prediction if 3-15. Excitement!Because I’m Liverpool, I also blame pro-United bias from FIFA for inexplicably banning, or rather not un-banning, the aforementioned Matip. Disgusting.”
And we’re off! Liverpool, in their luminous yellow away kits, get the game underway. They’re kicking from right to left in the first half.
Before we begin, there will be a minute’s applause for the late Graham Taylor. It’s impeccably observed. Now for the game.
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Here come the teams! The atmosphere inside Old Trafford is rocking. My inbox is pretty quiet, though. Where have you all gone?
If it makes Jurgen Klopp feel any better, I have coffee. Should I admit that? It could be seen as pro-Manchester United bias.
Jurgen Klopp speaks. “It’s exciting. It’s a difficult game of course. I read in the programme notes there was no ‘welcome to Liverpool’ and then I wanted a coffee, it was tea.” The mind games begin.
It’s finished Everton 4-0 Manchester City in today’s first match! No need to adjust your screens - that isn’t a typo. Instead it’s Pep Guardiola’s biggest ever league defeat and it means that Manchester United will go level with their neighbours with a win. Liverpool can go five points clear of City.
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At Anfield in October, Jose Mourinho sprung a surprise by picking Ashley Young on the left. It was a negative move, a decision based on Young’s defensive capabilities, and Marcus Rashford spent most of the match operating as an auxiliary right-back on the opposite flank. But there has been an emphatic shift in mentality today. Henrikh Mkhitaryan will flit inside from the right with mischief on his mind, while Anthony Martial offers pace and bite on the left. United, it would appear, are going for this.
As for Liverpool, their starting 11 is not as strong as it could be. Nathaniel Clyne is absent with an abdominal injury, so it’s a huge afternoon for young Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Joel Matip is absent after failing to receive clearance from Fifa after his dispute with Cameroon over his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations. At least Jordan Henderson has recovered in time to take his place in midfield, though, and while Sadio Mane is off at Afcon, the good news is that Philippe Coutinho is on the bench.
The teams
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Carrick, Herrera; Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Martial; Ibrahimovic. Subs: Romero, Fellaini, Blind, Smalling, Rooney, Mata, Rashford.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Henderson, Can; Lallana, Wijnaldum, Firmino; Origi. Subs: Karius, Gomez, Moreno, Stewart, Ejaria, Coutinho, Sturridge.
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Preamble
Hello. After the thrills and spills of Red Monday, now it’s time for Red ... Sunday. As the Premier League hype machine cranks into gear once more for a match between fourth and sixth and everyone tries to stay awake while remember anything interesting that happened when Manchester United and Liverpool met at Anfield in October, it might be worth cooling your expectations for this one, if only for the sake of poor old perspective, which tends to take a fearsome beating before a Big Match. It is only one game. There have been plenty in the past, there have been plenty in the future and the last one between these two sides lives long in the memory only for its sheer awfulness, machiavellian master of mind games Jose Mourinho setting United up negatively, Liverpool unable to summon the wit to find a way through.
Alternatively, of course, we can ignore reality, dream a little and embrace the hype because this is, at the end of the day, for me, y’know, when all’s said and done, a hugely significant game for a number of reasons. The most important one is that supporters of the winning team will get to crow on social media for at least a week. Unleash the memes! Drown them with gifs! Kill them with banter! But trying to predict the outcome isn’t easy. Although Liverpool would have been favourites a month or two ago and the narrative has swung United’s away over the festive period, these are two evenly matched teams, with two excellent managers, plenty of matchwinners and a fair few weaknesses on both sides.
From United’s perspective, this is a fine opportunity to answer suggestions the critics who have played down their nine-match winning run because of the quality of their opponents, while Liverpool need to get back on track after disappointing league and cup results against Sunderland, Plymouth and Southampton. It will certainly be interesting to see how Mourinho approaches the challenge of taking on Jurgen Klopp’s freewheeling side. He can be one of the more ... how to put this nicely ... pragmatic managers around, but United have the attacking players to test Liverpool’s nerve and occasionally questionable defending. United were passive against Manchester City in September and paid for it, but this is no time to play for a point given that they would go two behind Liverpool. Don’t underestimate Klopp’s men, though. They might be without Sadio Mane and they have injury concerns over important players, but just check them out in big games this season – they’ve already stylishly seen off Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City this season, so they are unlikely to show any fear here. In summary, then, believe the hype. Believe it! It’s Manchester United! It’s Liverpool! It’s gonna be massive!
Kick-off: 4pm GMT.
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