Match reportCody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah score as Liverpool draw 2-2 with Manchester United

The Reds were on course for victory after Cody Gakpo’s equaliser and a Mohamed Salah penalty had overturned Lisandro Martinez’s opener, which arrived in the early stages of the second half.

But United claimed a point through Amad Diallo’s 80th-minute equaliser – after which both sides could have won it, with Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley and Virgil van Dijk all seeing efforts saved.

Indeed, the best opportunity in the closing stages was the visitors’ as Harry Maguire blazed Joshua Zirkzee’s set-up over the crossbar deep into stoppage time.

The draw means Arne Slot’s side sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand on second-placed Arsenal.

Team

Ibrahima Konate was restored to Liverpool’s starting XI upon his return from injury as Slot made one change from last weekend’s 5-0 win at West Ham United.

Bradley and Federico Chiesa were named on the bench, but Dominik Szoboszlai missed out due to illness.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Nunez, 60), Mac Allister, Salah, Jones (Jota, 60), Gakpo (Elliott, 86), Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold (Bradley, 86).

Unused subs: Kelleher, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Quansah.

First half

An uneventful first 10 minutes gave way to a flurry of openings for the Reds. Luis Diaz miscued over the bar before Gakpo toe-poked just wide after being slipped in by Ryan Gravenberch.

United goalkeeper Andre Onana then made a sharp stop to repel Alexis Mac Allister’s low half-volley following a superb pass from Salah.

It remained an even contest, though, and the visitors failed to maximise a presentable chance when Rasmus Hojlund placed his cross slightly behind Amad, who was therefore unable to direct his header goalwards.

And after Gravenberch had whistled a long-range attempt narrowly wide, Alisson Becker intervened with a fine save to deny Hojlund, who had got in behind the Liverpool defence.

Second half

Slot’s side began the second period with more tempo and intensity but it was United who went in front five minutes after the restart as Martinez stayed upfield after a set-piece and crashed a shot in off the underside of the bar.

But Liverpool’s response was emphatic and Gakpo equalised quickly. The Dutchman, in his favoured inside-left channel, flummoxed his compatriot Matthijs de Ligt and dispatched an unerring finish into the far top corner.

Slot had already readied Jota and Darwin Nunez prior to the leveller and the forwards entered the action in place of Curtis Jones and Diaz.

And, eight minutes after Gakpo’s goal, the game turned in the Reds’ favour as De Ligt blocked Mac Allister’s header with his arm.

Referee Michael Oliver initially waved away the strong appeals for a penalty but overturned his decision after being sent to the monitor by the VAR.

Salah duly stepped up and made no mistake, burying his kick into the Kop-end bottom corner to score his 175th Premier League goal – a tally that puts the Egyptian level with Thierry Henry in joint-seventh place in the competition’s all-time top scorers list.

However, Liverpool were unable to capitalise on their position of strength and United hit back 10 minutes from time as Amad nudged Alejandro Garnacho’s pull-back home.

Chances then came and went at both ends as the teams each sought a late winner, but it ended all square.

Attendance: 60,275