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On the January 19, 2020, Manchester United confronted Liverpool at Anfield within the Premier League, hoping and praying to not get humiliated. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, simply over a 12 months into his tenure, set his staff up in a again 5 with the intention of retaining it as tight on the again as potential in opposition to a particularly potent entrance three.
With solely moments left within the match, United had a nook kick – their final try to degree the match. Alisson Becker caught the cross into the field and instantly discovered Mohammed Salah making a darting run in the direction of the objective, with no United defenders again to cease him.
The Egyptian latched onto the excellent ball by the Brazilian goalkeeper, slotted previous David De Gea on the Kop finish to make it 2-0, and sealed one more three factors for the house aspect en path to their eventual title win. From a United perspective, the win put their arch-rivals 30 factors forward of them within the league and no fan may assist however really feel completely inferior in that second – if not completely dejected.
👑🏆@MoSalah’s injury-time clincher in opposition to @ManUtd has gained our Objective of the Month award for January 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/L4exP2NH6dFebruary 7, 2020
Quick ahead roughly 12 months. Solskjaer’s males made the journey to Anfield as soon as extra within the Premier League, nearly with a touch of superiority this time, sitting three factors forward of the champions previous to kick-off with the potential for extending that result in six with a win.
Even the Norwegian’s formation selection had an air of confidence about it, deploying a again 4 versus a again 5 from the season prior, with a transparent perception that his aspect may go to Anfield and probably snatch all three factors in addition to finish Liverpool’s 67-match unbeaten run at dwelling within the Premier League.
Sadly, the sport ended goalless and the spoils have been shared. Liverpool elevated their unbeaten dwelling report to 68 video games and keep inside three factors of the 20-time champions.
Nonetheless, it’s not all dangerous for Solskjaer and his staff. Anfield is and at all times might be one of many hardest stadiums to get a end in – even with out followers – however United did simply that. Additionally they managed to maintain a clear sheet, which is the primary time that Liverpool have failed to attain at dwelling since October 2018 in opposition to Manchester City.
The Manchester United backline was excellent all through the match, with Jurgen Klopp’s males being restricted to merely three pictures on the right track throughout the whole sport. Luke Shaw, particularly, was great for the guests, retaining Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold at bay down Liverpool’s proper aspect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoMxTIQk_DM
United may have taken all three factors from that sport as they definitely had the higher of the probabilities, particularly two clear-cut probabilities in related positions taken by Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. Nonetheless, each struck the ball too near the goalkeeper.
Regardless, even saying that United may – and probably ought to – have gained the match in opposition to a staff like Liverpool tells you every thing you’ll want to know concerning the development made by the membership over the previous 12 months on the pitch.
The Premier League season has solely reached its midway level now. League positions could fluctuate within the coming months with merely 5 factors separating sixth-place Everton and Manchester United on the high, however the primary side to remove from Sunday’s fixture is the truth that United have come to this point within the final 12 months beneath Solskjaer.
With some astute signings in the summertime switch window, to tactical tweaks similar to enjoying Pogba as a large playmaker, the Crimson Devils have clawed their manner into critical title rivalry for the primary time in almost eight years.
Whereas it’s nonetheless extremely unlikely that United will stay in first place come Might, on the midpoint the staff are already sitting fairly on the high following Sunday night’s draw, proving as soon as once more that they’re transferring in the correct path beneath their Norwegian boss.
Adam Scully is an editor for The United Stand. Discover extra on Manchester United at @UnitedStandMUFC
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