A Precious Point at Anfield

11/01/2025, 11:59

On the last day of 2024, Manchester United suffered a 0-2 defeat against Newcastle at "The Theater of Dreams," Old Trafford. This was their fourth consecutive loss in the Premier League. The "curse" seemed far from over for Man Utd as they faced Liverpool at the beginning of 2025, but they managed to draw 2-2 at Anfield.

202501060833221.jpeg

At the end of 2024, Manchester United ranked 14th in the Premier League with 22 points, just 7 points above the relegation zone and 13 points behind the top 4. In this crisis, coach Ruben Amorim hoped that the Red Devils would recover their form as they entered 2025. However, in their opening match of the year, they had to face a formidable opponent in Liverpool. This was seen as a major test for Man Utd, as they were sitting mid-table, while Liverpool were dominating the Premier League standings under the guidance of Arne Slot. With 45 points, Liverpool were at the top of the table, 6 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, and their attacking force, having scored 45 goals, was the strongest in the league.

In the 2025 season opener, Manchester United faced a challenging task at Anfield. Although they had been struggling in recent matches, the Red Devils were still considered a tough opponent for top teams. It's worth noting that in December 2024, under the guidance of Amorim, they had secured a victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Ahead of their encounter with Liverpool, despite facing a highly in-form opponent, United managed to implement a completely different strategy. Amorim set the team up in a 3-4-2-1 formation and made three substitutions: Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Joshua Zirkzee were replaced by Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, opted to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that had served them well in their 5-0 victory over West Ham, making just one change by bringing Ibrahima Konaté on for Joe Gomez.

202501060833222.jpeg

Liverpool started strong, pushing forward aggressively early in the match, but the tight defense of Manchester United made it hard for the hosts to break through. Moreover, Man Utd did not sit back passively; they launched several dangerous counter-attacks that put Liverpool’s defense under considerable pressure. Both teams had clear chances in the first half, but neither could convert, resulting in a 0-0 draw at halftime.

202501060833223.jpeg

In the second half, Manchester United shocked everyone with a swift attack. In the 52nd minute, Lisandro Martinez made a crucial run and found Bruno Fernandes, who passed it perfectly to the Argentine midfielder. Martínez’s powerful left-footed strike from a tight angle beat Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson, and Man Utd led 1-0. They held onto the lead for more than six minutes, but Liverpool showed why they were at the top of the Premier League. In a quick counter-attack, Cody Gakpo evaded Matthijs de Ligt before unleashing a brilliant shot that beat goalkeeper Onana, leveling the score at 1-1. Liverpool then took the lead in the 70th minute when Mohamed Salah successfully converted a penalty after being fouled in the box, making it 2-1.

Just when it seemed like Man Utd was heading for another defeat, they managed to equalize in the 80th minute. Amad Diallo struck the vital goal to make it 2-2, securing a crucial point for the Red Devils at Anfield.

While the result gave Manchester United just one point against the league leaders, that point was precious more than gold. It sparked hope that the team could rebuild its confidence and find its rhythm again, despite the tough challenges ahead.

UYEN LINH

According to Bao Binh Thuan
Copy Link
Related articles
Thank You, Xuan Son!
Two days have passed since the Vietnamese national football team clinched the ASEAN Cup title after defeating Thailand in both legs of the final. The victory’s echo still resonates in the hearts of every Vietnamese. Amid the joy of triumph, one name stands out above all others: Nguyễn Xuân Son.

(0) Comments
Focus
The Worthy Heir to the King of Clay’s Throne
BTO-The 2025 Rome Masters final delivered what could only be described as a “super classic” of the new tennis era. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz faced off in a long-anticipated showdown, and it was Alcaraz who emerged victorious to claim the prestigious title.
Do not miss
  • Colorful Áo Dài and Folk Dance Showcase Marks 50 Years of Liberation
    25 yesterday Culture
    BTO – On the morning of April 26, the Bình Thuận Provincial Women's Union organized a mass Áo Dài and folk dance performance at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Phan Thiết City, featuring the participation of 600 female officials, members,...
  • Farewell to the “Bavarian Giants”
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After a courageous 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Inter Milan returned home to host Bayern Munich in the second leg. Though a one-goal lead was far from secure, the Italian side left no room...
  • No Miracle at Signal Iduna Park
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona has a reputation for collapsing under pressure, having twice squandered significant first-leg advantages in the Champions League knockout stages. That gave Dortmund hope for a dramatic comeback at Signal Iduna Park in...
  • Phan Thiết – The 50-Year Journey: From Liberation to a Dynamic, Modern Coastal City
    one month ago Business
    April 19, 1975 – April 19, 2025: A proud 50-year milestone since the liberation of Phan Thiết. Half a century may not be long in the grand flow of history, but for Phan Thiết—a land once scarred by war—it marks a powerful transformation....
  • Red Devils Hold Off Blue Tide in Manchester Derby Stalemate
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-On the night of April 6, a classic Manchester derby unfolded at Old Trafford in Matchweek 31 of the Premier League, where Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in a high-stakes encounter. Despite having little left to fight...
  • Nou Camp Nightmare: Dortmund Swept Aside by Ruthless Barca
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona put on a dominant display in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants delighted their home crowd with a goal-fest, featuring...
  • Liverpool Bounces Back with Vital Victory Over Everton, Keeping Arsenal at Bay
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After consecutive failures in the FA Cup, Champions League, and League Cup, the morale of Arne Slot's squad has been declining. Facing pressure following Arsenal's victory in the early match the day before, Liverpool was compelled...
  • The Beauty of Hòn Cau Island
    one month ago LANDSCAPES
    March signals the perfect time for a visit to Hòn Cau Island (Phước Thể, Tuy Phong) as the weather transitions and the golden sunlight bathes the island. Located about 110 km from Phan Thiết, Cù Lao Câu is a pristine, uninhabited island...
  • The Final Goal
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Manchester City now only has one goal left: winning the FA Cup to salvage what has been a “disastrous” season. As a result, Coach Pep Guardiola and his players have put all their energy into the world’s oldest football tournament....
  • Regaining the Top Spot
    2 month ago Sports
    Playing a day before their arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid took full advantage of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Villarreal, thanks to a brace from Mbappe.
  • A Hard-Fought Victory
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-On the evening of March 19, the Vietnam national team played their first international match since winning the AFF Cup 2024, hosting Cambodia in a friendly at Gò Đậu Stadium (Bình Dương). Given their superior standing, a victory...
  • Farewell to the "King of Cups"
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the French football powerhouse PSG was under immense pressure to win the return leg away at Liverpool. And they did just that, securing a place...
  • Surrendering the Title
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO- The highlight of Premier League Matchweek 28 was the showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal desperately needed a victory to keep up with Liverpool, but they could only manage a draw, while the league...
  • Even Djokovic Can’t Defy Time
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Novak Djokovic has just suffered a defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of  Indian Wells 2025, marking the first time in seven years that he has lost three consecutive matches. At 37 years old, Djokovic is...
  • Binh Thuan Province to cooperate with Sun Group to unlock its Tourism Strengths
    BTO – On early March, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of Binh Thuan Province held a meeting with Sun Group regarding investment cooperation.
  • The King Has Fallen: Man Utd Crash Out of FA Cup
    2 month ago Sports
    Recently, Manchester United’s FA Cup title defense came to a crushing end as Fulham stunned the Red Devils in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Heading into the fifth-round clash at Old Trafford,...
  • Sunset Slope: Phan Thiet’s Hidden Gem for Breathtaking Views
    2 month ago LANDSCAPES
    BTO – Still in the heat of the first two lunar months, Sunset Slope on Co Mountain has become a renowned sunset-watching spot in Phan Thiet. Located in Phu Hai Ward, this stunning location offers breathtaking views of the mountains...
  • Victory Seals the Throne
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a loss in the first leg at home last week, Manchester City finds itself in a tough spot in its quest for a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 against Real Madrid. This defeat marked their first loss to Madrid...
  • Tough game Alonso!
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-The Round 22 Bundesliga showdown between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich was one of the most anticipated of the season. On one side, there were the defending champions, and on the other, the league leaders. Bayern entered the...
  • Back to the Top for Barcelona
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Before taking on Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona had the chance to claim the top spot in La Liga after both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were held to 1-1 draws in Round 24 (Real drew with Osasuna, Atletico drew with Celta Vigo). The...
POWERED BY ONECMS - A PRODUCT OF NEKO
A Precious Point at Anfield