Mo Salah salvages vital point for title-chasing Liverpool at Manchester United

Liverpool are the first to falter in the three-way title joust with Arsenal and Manchester City, and Manchester United will be delighted at causing this.

When Jürgen Klopp looks at the Premier League table he will now see his team second, level on points with Arsenal but behind on goal difference, and one point ahead of City, all three sides having seven games left. United, for the spirit shown in the second half, deserved a draw but Klopp and his side may come to rue allowing Erik ten Hag’s erratic team to take two precious points from them.

From 67 minutes in this riveting contest took off. First, Kobbie Mainoo gave United an unlikely lead via a strike that will live long in the tale of this rivalry for the ages.

Collecting the ball on the right of Liverpool’s area the youngster’s pirouette bamboozled two visiting players before, unsighted, he curled home, the sweetest curling effort allowing the flailing Caoimhin Kelleher no chance, the ball kissing the left of his netting.

Then, as Liverpool’s title hopes buckled, Aaron Wan-Bissaka foolishly scythed down Harvey Elliott and Anthony Taylor awarded an obvious penalty. Mohamed Salah, profligate all afternoon, beat André Onana to the United goalkeeper’s right and Klopp’s men were level.

Before this the first half was a virtual training exercise for Liverpool who ended with 15 shots to United’s none and a 1-0 lead, Luis Díaz’s far-post strike after Andy Robertson’s corner from the right occurring with the Colombian winger unmarked.

At the interval Ten Hag retained faith with the same XI and was rewarded. United’s equaliser featured disaster for Jarell Quansah and ecstasy for Bruno Fernandes. Close to the halfway line the 21-year-old turned and passed to the lurking United captain whose instant finish had enough dip to avert the dive of Kelleher, stranded midway in Liverpool territory, and to slip inside his left post.

Next came the goals of Mainoo and Salah. Diaz, from point-blank range, missed an added-time chance to grab all three points. Antony, too, ran in and shot, the ball gathered gratefully by Kelleher to end what had been pell-mell, 100mph entertainment.