Manchester United were much improved at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as they earned a 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
United went into the game on the back of a four-game losing streak and closer to the relegation zone than the European nations, but they were excellent here and more than good value for their point.
Liverpool struggled throughout the competition and will no doubt feel like it was a missed opportunity after Arsenal drew at Brighton on Saturday, but their lead at the summit is still a healthy six points having played a game less than their rivals.
How the game played out
The filthy conditions at Anfield shouldn't have been too surprising given that postponement was considered on sunday morning. An almighty rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' warmed Scouse spirits on a miserable afternoon on Merseyside, but a competent United display in the opening 45 minutes initially brought a sense of pathetic error among the home crowd.
The issues that were so distinct to Newcastle were eased by Ruben Amorim opting for a new and dynamic pivot in midfield, and although the proactivity of United's centre-halves presented alternate problems, their aggression was clearly a net positive throughout.
Liverpool were forced to work against a stubborn united block which delivered space between lines only occasionally. It took great interplay to break through, and the Reds came close to making the breakthrough through Cody Gakpo.
The Dutchman's chance came amid a flurry of shots from the home side, but United didn't let Liverpool build any momentum in the first half and it was the visitors who wouldn't have wanted the half-time whistle to come.
Their combination play was efficient, allowing them to escape Liverpool's vaunted counter-press and they had plenty of joy when targeting the Reds' right flank. After Amad Diallo miscued a header to give United the lead, Alisson expertly denied Rasmus Hojlund one-on-one.
Arne Slot has been no stranger to raising his arm on the break, and a lift was required from the visitors against their historic arch-rivals. Their task was made more difficult just minutes after the restart as Lisandro Martinez slotted home a deserved opener for Amorim's side – their first at Anfield for more than six years.
It then looked as if United would build on their opener, but Liverpool's first venture after the stalemate resulted in an equaliser. Cody Gakpo is a man in form and his finish was that of a striker who boasts the most confidence in front of goal. Matthijs de Ligt was responsible for allowing Gakpo space to shoot after diving in, and the Dutch defender was once again the protagonist in defense as Liverpool took the lead.
De Ligt was penalized for conduct in the box following VAR interference, and Mohamed Salah was on hand to make the Red Devils follow again as he scored from the spot.
Some may have expected the Reds to finally take control and run away with the contest, but United refused to go away and quickly restored some ground before Amad Diallo leveled the scores. Amorim's side got in behind Liverpool's right wing once again and Amad was on hand to turn in Alejandro Garnacho's first-time cross.
The draw made for an extremely exciting finish with both teams throwing away excellent chances to win a good game of Premier League football. After Virgil van Dijk headed at Andre Onana, United finally broke through, but Joshua Zirkzee's cross fell to the feet of Harry Maguire, who predictably burst over.
Check out Liverpool vs Man Utd player ratings here.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be hoping Florentino Perez enjoyed a nap on Sunday afternoon. There has been a lot of talk about the right-back's move to Real Madrid on a free transfer tRANSFER this summer, but the Englishman was more Jonathan Woodgate than David Beckham against the Red Devils.
By the end of the first half, almost 60% of United's attacks were focused on Liverpool's right.
Aleksandr-Arnold's reluctance turned to indifference at times, with Diogo Daloti doggedly getting behind the Englishman. The right-back has defended well for the most part this season amid a brilliant campaign, but this performance was a throwback to the old stereotype. His ball-handling was abysmal as well.
He was perhaps not helped by a rusty Ibrahima Konate, who struggled to defend the channel with his usual energy on his return to the team. However, a notable player Real Madrid Calibri needs to take ownership of his wing, but United were embarrassed when Alexander-Arnold was on target.
Booked and pinned to end a miserable afternoon.
Well, United didn't have one full week off, but it was their longest gap between games since Amorim took over.
The Red Devils definitely benefited. Their plans were clear in and out of possession, with the improvement from Newcastle on Monday night. Amorim identified his centre-backs' reluctance to drop into midfield as a key issue of late, with all three making a concerted effort to keep Liverpool out between the lines here. The problems only arose when the Reds' crafty back three went off the shoulder of the United pivot.
Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo were disciplined for the most part providing composure in possession, but their positional discipline was repeatedly tested and there were a few mistakes. This is to be expected against an opponent of an opponent who is always so good at picking apart defensive formations. Bruno Fernandes struck skillfully after Mainoo was pulled off, and the United captain was arguably the best player on the pitch in the second half.
It wasn't perfect but Amorim, who described his players as 'too scared' to perform in the build-up to Sunday's game, will take great satisfaction from his work on the training pitch. His team were more than just competent at Anfield. They could have easily walked away with all three points.
Liverpool certainly didn't have it all their own way against the improved Red Devils, but one man who always looked in control was Mac Allister.
The Argentine's role under Slott is more fluid than it was under Jurgen Klopp, with the German looking to Mac Allister to alleviate Liverpool's midfield woes during his swansong campaign. The introduction of Ryan Gravenberch has given Mac Allister greater freedom, with the former Brighton man taking on a comprehensive role.
Not only is he tasked with supporting Gravenberch in the formation, but he is required to run off the shoulders of opposing midfielders and provide a point of reference between the lines. We saw the best of his spatial performance here, with Mac Allister testing Andre Onana after meeting Salah's deft back pass.
The midfielder's subtle but masterful work on the ball was matched by his ferocity without it, and as his team-mates struggled to match their remarkable levels on home soil, Mac Allister refused to flinch. He also had a hand in both goals.