Manchester United ended a four-game losing streak with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, disrupting Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League title.
With this result, Liverpool remains six points clear at the top of the table, holding a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal. However, the match represented a missed opportunity for Liverpool, who initially led 2-1 through goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah's penalty.
United opened the scoring with a spectacular goal from Lisandro Martinez, breaking a six-year goal drought at Anfield. Amad Diallo equalized in the 80th minute, securing a point for United, which moved them up to 13th in the table and seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, acknowledged that United was performing better than their league position suggested. United had recently suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, prompting concerns about their relegation status. The return of captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension bolstered United's lineup.
Despite Liverpool's early chances, including a near miss from Gakpo and a strong save from United's goalkeeper Andre Onana against Mac Allister, United gradually found their footing. Martinez's goal came as a surprise, energizing the visitors and unsettling the home crowd.
Gakpo equalized for Liverpool with a powerful shot, and Salah converted a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a handball by De Ligt. However, United's resilience paid off when Diallo scored from a low cross by Alejandro Garnacho, who had faced criticism for his attitude.
In a separate match, Fulham drew 2-2 with Ipswich at Craven Cottage, with Raul Jimenez scoring two penalties. Ipswich initially took the lead through Sam Szmodics, but Jimenez equalized. Liam Delap restored Ipswich's lead with another penalty, but Jimenez secured a point for Fulham in stoppage time.
Ipswich remains in the relegation zone, while Fulham's performance was marked by Jimenez's character and composure. Both managers expressed mixed feelings about the results, with Ipswich's Kieran McKenna proud of his team's effort despite the disappointment of not securing a win.
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