Man Utd analysis: Point made as Ruben Amorim’s impressive Red Devils hold Liverpool at Anfield

Manchester United grabbed a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as Ruben Amorim’s side arrested a run of four defeats.

In spite of a massive snowstorm descending on the north of England over the weekend, the much-anticipated heavyweight clash went ahead and the two teams duly served up a red-hot battle to remember.

United fans feared the worst before kick-off but ended up feeling that Amorim’s tenure might finally have a platform to build on after holding their high-flying hosts.

Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reports on the game.

Big game goes ahead despite treacherous weather

I woke up on Sunday morning and shivered. With my cold breath steaming up the window, I peeked outside and saw my car snowed in. Knowing what that could mean, I high-fived the dog.

Flights into Manchester and Liverpool were suspended as the weather gods flexed.

Surely it would be too treacherous to expect poor fans to risk life and limb to get to Anfield in these Baltic conditions, I thought to myself.

A rearranged game would suit a struggling United side on a miserable run of form.

So imagine my disgust when news filtered through that the plum fixture in the Premier League calendar was set to go ahead. Sigh.

It was going to be a long and arduous afternoon.

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Hosts get off to a flyer

In a battle of defenders who cannot defend, Diogo Dalot had an early run at Trent Alexander-Arnold as United started relatively brightly on Merseyside.

Soon after, Mohamed Salah – a regular thorn in United sides over the years – forced a good block from Harry Maguire.

Alexander-Arnold then saw a shot blocked before Luis Diaz blazed the rebound over.

Cody Gakpo also should have found the back of the net after getting in behind but dinked his shot narrowly wide of the far post.

With only 15 minutes on the clock, Andre Onana denied a first-time effort from Alexis MacAlister and the screw was turning.

It felt like a cat and mouse game as the hosts' formidable attacking line-up was pouncing at every opportunity.

However, the mouse almost nicked off with a Dairylea triangle at the other end when Dalot found space down the left and whipped in a cross that looked perfect for Amad Diallo, but the Ivorian seemed to get ahead of the ball slightly and made no proper connection.

Kobbie Mainoo's follow-up shot was deflected over for a corner and United were back in it.

United resolute but lack bite

The visitors were clearly having more joy down the left via Dalot, reinforcing the view of many that Alexander-Arnold cannot defend for toffee.

Manuel Ugarte was doing solid work in the midfield, having won four duels in the first 25 minutes and completing most of his passes.

United kept probing and could have gone ahead when Lisandro Martinez played a delicious ball over the Liverpool defence that put Rasmus Hojlund in on goal, but Alisson stood up and saved well.

Although it had taken until the 42nd minute, it was United's first shot on target and they were growing into the game.

Unfortunately, while the Red Devils are certainly capable of moments of class, they are frequently let down by a misfiring forward line, albeit one starved of proper chances.

By the half-time whistle, it was 552 minutes since the visitors had last scored at Anfield in the Premier League, a run of 44 shots without success.

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Rivals trade goals as game comes to life

The rain continued to fall in the second half, with Onana flapping at an early corner before United went up the other end and Dalot was denied a shot on target by Virgil Van Dijk.

Amorims side then went ahead through the unlikeliest of sources.

Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away to Martinez, who found Fernandes in and around the left of the Liverpool box. The skipper turned back inside while Martinez stayed high. That proved the right decision as the Portuguese slipped in a cute ball between the lines and the defender absolutely smashed it in off the underside of the crossbar.

Sadly, this is United and the lead lasted a mere six-and-a-half minutes.

Gakpo sent Matthijs de Ligt for a hot dog before slamming an equaliser past Onana.

Smelling the win, Slot threw on Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota for Diaz and Curtis Jones, respectively.

De Ligt was then booked for a tactical foul on Nunez as the hosts broke, and it was all getting a little frenetic at Anfield.

Visitors show fight after Reds take the lead

Disaster struck not long after.

VAR were called in when De Ligt's arm was deemed to have blocked Jota's tame header and the chaps at Stockley Park gave the green light for a penalty.

Salah obliged from the spot – his 13th goal in 11 games against United – and the home side had turned it around with 20 minutes remaining.

Amorim subsequently turned to Alejandro Garnacho in the hopes of some magic from a player out of form and favour.

Things continued to be heated as Maguire was cautioned for a tackle on Salah, Martinez looked on the verge of giving Jota a hiding, and Noussair Mazraoui wasted a glorious opportunity to put in Garnacho who had acres of space.

With the clock ticking, it was suddenly 2-2.

Fernandes, ever the architect, fed Garnacho who ran at his defender before cutting back for Amad to steer the ball first-time past Alisson in front of the travelling United fans.

Limbs. Limbs everywhere.

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Final push comes to nought

Leny Yoro came on for De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee swapped with Hojlund while Slot rolled his dice with Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley thrown on.

It was getting close to hero time and another goal felt certain.

Fernandes almost caught Alisson out at his near post with a low effort before Onana saved to deny Jota and Bradley in quick succession. From the resulting corner, Van Dijk almost got it but Onana was equal to the task.

Seven minutes of added time were indicated. It was end-to-end, playground football with the next goal sure to be the winner.

Then, Zirkzee was played in on goal and cut back to Maguire ten yards out and central. The big man only had to side-foot it home but he put it over the top with his shin.

The whistle followed and it was time to lie down in a dark room and reflect on a breathtaking game.

Amorim's tenure finally up and running?

United defended solidly at Anfield, controlled the game well at times through the middle, and had a real go for all three points.

Their resolve was particularly noticeable after falling behind to the penalty, a time when many would have expected them to crumble.

At the end of the day, it is a good result at the home of the champions-elect, who will likely run away with the title by double figures this season.

Many questions and criticisms remain regarding Amorim’s United, especially around selections, goalscoring, and player motivation.

We may not have found answers to all of those problems over a battling 90 minutes at Anfield, but the 2-2 draw is surely as good a springboard to work from as any.

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