Virgil van Dijk fumes at Liverpool teammate as Arne Slot proven right - 5 talking points vs Man Utd
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool is six points clear at the top of the Premier League but could only draw 2-2 with Manchester United on home soil with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah both scoring.
It was Manchester United who scored first through Lisandro Martinez before Gakpo leveled. Salah then put Liverpool in front but Amad Diallo was able to make it all square again.
Arne Slot was keen to point to Manchester United being able to turn it on even when in the bottom half of the Premier League, and he was right. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk makes 'absolutely honest' admission in fiery post-Man Utd interview
Contract message sent but Trent Alexander-Arnold struggles
On The Kop, there has been a banner for some time that reads "Give Mo His Dough". Now, there is another one: "Give Mo And Co Their Dough". Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are also soon to be out of contract, of course, and the clock is ticking.
With Real Madrid circling Alexander-Arnold, the speculation is set to continue until a concrete outcome emerges one way or another. On the pitch, the right-back struggled to make an impact going forward and toiled going the other way.
Roy Keane said he was more likely to end up at Tranmere Rovers than Real Madrid at half-time. Typically exaggerated it might be, but too many more showings like this and the question of if he is distracted by all the talk will be inevitable. Van Dijk was furious with him for taking too long over a throw-in at one stage, but his lackadaisical defending was more of a concern.
Man Utd impress
Heading into the game, the talk was 4-0 this, 5-0 that. The 7-0 in 2023 might have been a one-off but the 23-point gap in the table was enough to point many to an inevitable conclusion: not just that Liverpool would win, but that it would win well.
First half, Manchester United had other ideas. The Old Trafford side had the better chances and was brave in possession. Its 3-4-3 formation was well-suited to the way the game was going, giving it greater numbers when building out from the back and negating the Liverpool press. It was making Luis Diaz look isolated.
Second half, things didn't really improve for Liverpool. Martinez gave the visitor the lead and then it was up to the Reds to respond. Gakpo did so emphatically but Amad had the final say. The Reds didn't win but might be relieved not to have lost.
Alexis Mac Allister exceptional
In the center of the pitch, Alexis Mac Allister was superb. It was the Liverpool number 10 who got his team back on the ball after a tough start to the game and he who set up the equalizer as well. Setting the tempo in the middle, Mac Allister played countless clever balls around the corner and was able to ply through a surprisingly effective Manchester United press.
Curtis Jones was given no space and Ryan Gravenberch wasn't as obviously sensational as he sometimes can be. Mac Allister, though, was fast enough — in his head and with his feet — to be a step ahead of everyone else on the field. This was another excellent showing from the 26-year-old.
Arne Slot proven right
There was no complacency from the Liverpool boss in this game. While there might have been from some in the stands, the Dutchman was having none of it.
"I think every game we play is a serious test," Slot told Sky Sports before kick-off. "Manchester United has much more quality than some other teams, so we know, not only because of the rivalry but also the quality players, it is a challenging game.
"Until now [we] haven't shown [complacency], but it might lead to the United players showing they are better than this. They had it with Manchester City away and last season with the FA Cup final. When you least expect it, they show up."
Once again, Slot was right. Unfortunately for Liverpool, the Reds didn't turn up in quite the same way. They avoided defeat but this was two points dropped considering the gap between the teams in the table.
Premier League title lead remains
Five points clear before kick-off, Liverpool is now leading the way by six at the top of the Premier League. And it still has that game in hand — the small matter of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Nevertheless, this was a performance that should have been better. Had it been, Liverpool would have won the match and moved even further ahead at the summit.
Manchester United started well and Liverpool never really looked that convincing. The main thing for Slot is that it wasn't a defeat with a point gained — but he will be keen to move on from it quickly.
