Liverpool avoids damaging defeat to Man United

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MANCHESTER, England, April 8, (AP): Having ended Liverpool’s quadruple challenge, Manchester United looked set to deliver a major blow to Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of bowing out at the end of the season with a second Premier League title.

Time will tell how damaging a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford will be to the Merseyside club in the three-way fight at the top, but it could have been so much worse if not for Mohamed Salah’s late penalty.
“We should have won the game, that is clear,” Klopp said. “As far as I’m concerned, we have a point more than we did before.”

It wasn’t only the prospect of defeat at the home of Liverpool’s fiercest rivals that felt so significant, but the nature of it.
Klopp’s team had dominated by raining down shots on United’s goal in a mismatched first half but only managed to lead 1-0 at the breakthrough of Luis Diaz’s goal.

The atmosphere changed when Bruno Fernandes struck a stunning equalizer from inside the center circle after a Liverpool mistake and Kobbie Mainoo curled a superb shot into the top corner to give United the lead.
After victories for Arsenal and Manchester City on Saturday, Liverpool was heading toward a second defeat to United, after losing in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup last month.
That was until Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s reckless lunge at Harvey Elliott led to referee Anthony Taylor pointing to the spot and Salah converting.

The draw moved Liverpool level on points with first-place Arsenal, but behind on goal difference. City is a point behind in third in an ever-tightening title race.
“You shouldn’t do what we do today constantly, that won’t be enough. Not,” Klopp said.
Klopp said in January that he would step down at the end of the season. He has already led Liverpool to the English League Cup and the club is still in contention to win the Europa League. Klopp hopes to win the Premier League title for a second time after ending the club’s 30-year wait for the trophy in 2020.

United has been a bogey team for Liverpool this season – with two league draws and an FA Cup victory.
Arsenal still has to travel to Old Trafford in the league, but Klopp predicted a similar performance by United would be punished by Mikel Arteta’s league leader.
“I’m sorry to say it, but we should have won both games and didn’t. That’s our fault,” Klopp said.
Erik Ten Hag needed a performance from his players in front of new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe.

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