Salah salvages point for Liverpool but Manchester United dent title hopes

The result leaves the Reds level on points with Arsenal at the top but the Gunners have a far superior goal difference. And if both teams win all their remaining seven games, the London club would be champions.

SPOT ON: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores a late equaliser from the penalty spot. Photo credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Manchester United 2 Liverpool 2

Liverpool's title bid suffered a serious setback as Manchester United followed up their FA Cup triumph by holding their bitter rivals to a draw in another thrilling game at Old Trafford.

Mo Salah's late penalty rescued a point for Jurgen Klopps' team but they needed all three to keep their championship destiny in their own hands.

The result leaves them level on points with Arsenal at the top but the Gunners have a far superior goal difference. And if both teams win all their remaining seven games, the London club would be champions.

Liverpool will be kicking themselves for not turning their first half superiority into a bigger lead. Luis Diaz's 23rd minute strike was a poor reward for the glut of chances they created in the opening period.

And they were punished in the second half when United made a drastic improvement and took the lead thanks to brilliant goals by Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.

But just like at Brentford and Chelsea, United could not hang on to their lead. Salah kept his nerve from the spot to equalise in the 82nd minute after Aaron Wan -Bissaka had tripped Harvey Elliott.

United had started brightly and Alesandro Garnacho had a 'goal' disallowed for offside in only the first minute. But it didn't last long.

Liverpool were soon into their stride and but for a combination of outstanding saves by United keeper Andre Onana, some last-ditch blocks and tackles and some less than clinical finishing, they would have been out of sight by the break.

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo scores. AP Photo/Dave Thompson.

The one goal they scored came in the 23rd minute an once again exposed United's defensive vulnerability - especially from set-pieces.

Darwin Nunez was left unmarked to flick on Andy Robertson's inswinging corner to Diaz who was given the time and space by the home defence to hook home a volley from eight yards.

United struggled to keep possession and had Onana to thank for keeping the score down with fine saves to deny Mo Salah on two occasions and Dominik Szoboszlai.

After a few stern words from Erik ten Hag, United came out for the second half with greater urgency and intensity and within five minutes were level thanks to a mistake by Liverpool's young defender Jarrell Quansah and an outstanding long-range finish by Fernandes.

Quansah 'blind' square pass to Virgil Van Dijk across the centre circle went straight to the quick-thinking Fernandes who spotted Caoimhin Kelleher off his line and fired a first time shot past the Liverpool from 45 yards.

Mainoo's wonder debut season continued when he curled in a superb shot after a from the edge of the area to put United in front after 67 minutes.

But their record for holding leads this season has not been good and it was the same old story when Wan-Bissaka slid into a foolish challenge on Elliott, referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and Salah slotted the penalty for his 23rd goal of the season.

The result may have damaged Liverpool's title hopes but it also didn't do United's Champions League qualification hopes any favours either.

Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Onana 8; Wan-Bissaka 7, Kambwala 7 (Mount 83, 5), Maguire 7, Dalot 7; Casemiro 7, Mainoo 8; Garnacho 7 (Amrabat 79, 6), Fernandes 8, Rashford 7 (Antony 65, 5); Hojlund 6.

Subs not used: Bayindir, Eriksen, Diallo, Forson, Amass, Ogunneye.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher 6; Bradley 7 (Gomez 65, 6), Quansah 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Szoboszlai 7 (Joes 65, 6), Mac Allister 8, Endo 7 (Elliott 68, 6); Salah 6, Nunez 5 (Gakpo 68, 5), Diaz 7.

Unused subs: Adrián, Konaté, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Danns.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.