Jonny Evans and Diogo Dalot of Manchester United battle for possession with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in the course of the Premier League match at Anfield on December 17, 2023 in Liverpool, England.
| Picture Credit score: Getty Photographs
A 0-0 draw at Liverpool within the Premier League on Sunday will not win any magnificence pageants, however a cussed and battling efficiency at Anfield suggests Manchester United’s gamers are up for the struggle.
On too many events this season, the alternative has the case.
“You need to struggle at all times for the badge,” United supervisor Erik Ten Hag mentioned. “The way in which we defended it was nearly excellent. After we made a mistake there was at all times a teammate to kind it out. I believe that’s the large win from right now. We’ve got to maintain this and convey this each recreation.”
United had folded on the residence of its fiercest rival when routed 7-0 on its final go to in March.
With Ten Hag dealing with hypothesis over his place and his group eradicated from the Champions League on the earliest stage, he upset the percentages to finish Liverpool’s 100% 11-game profitable run at Anfield this season and likewise put a dent in Jurgen Klopp’s bid to win the Premier League title.
A draw noticed Liverpool knocked off the highest of the desk and into second place by Arsenal, which beat Brighton 2-0 and travels to Anfield on Saturday.
Ten Hag might be extra involved about United’s fortunes and, whereas a gutsy show won’t completely shut out speak of a disaster at Previous Trafford, it provides the Dutch coach one thing to construct on.
“We play in very excessive highs and likewise typically in very low lows,” he mentioned. “If you wish to obtain one thing in a season you may’t be under sure limits so now we have to get the consistency.” It was a irritating day for Liverpool, which dominated the possession and probabilities, although Rasmus Hojlund’s second-half effort from shut vary for United was arguably the most effective opening created by both group.
“The primary factor I do not like is the consequence, we must always have gained the sport,” Klopp mentioned. “I am unable to keep in mind this sort of dominance in opposition to Manchester United as we did right now. It was particular, the environment was particular.” It was United’s first draw within the league this season, having gained 9 and misplaced seven of its 16 video games going into the match.
The consequence leaves Ten Hag’s group six factors off fourth-place Manchester Metropolis. Second-place Liverpool is one level behind Arsenal and above third-place Aston Villa on purpose distinction.
Arsenal go prime
After main the Premier League for 248 days final season with out happening to win the title, Arsenal appears to be like like a critical challenger once more.
Mikel Arteta’s group moved again to the highest of the desk on Sunday after a 2-0 win in opposition to Brighton and Liverpool’s draw.
Arsenal had made probably the most of defending champion Manchester Metropolis’s shock draw in opposition to Crystal Palace on Saturday — and the weekend acquired even higher for Arteta as Liverpool dropped factors as nicely.
Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz each scored within the second half at Emirates Stadium to increase Arsenal’s benefit over fourth-place Metropolis to 5 factors.
Aston Villa fights again
Third-place Aston Villa might be a shock challenger if it could possibly proceed its excellent early season type after shifting degree on factors with second-place Liverpool and one behind Arsenal.
Trailing 1-0 at Brentford after Keane Lewis-Potter’s first-half purpose, Unai Emery’s group got here again to win 2-1, with Ben Mee’s purple card within the 71st a turning level.
Alex Moreno evened the rating at GTech Group Stadium six minutes later and Ollie Watkins discovered the winner within the eighty fifth.
Villa had Boubacar Kamara despatched off within the seventh minute of stoppage time, however Villa held on to make it 5 wins out of its final six video games within the league.
Later Villa requested for an investigation after Watkins mentioned he had been abused by a Brentford fan.
“Aston Villa FC needs to precise its assist for Ollie Watkins and, with the utmost respect for the large majority of Brentford followers and for the membership, we ask the authorities to analyze this incident to search out this particular person,” it posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter. “Zero tolerance to abuse in soccer.”
Watkins referred to the incident after his profitable purpose.
“It was a feisty recreation and it spurred from my celebrations after I scored,” he mentioned. “That is not all the way down to the dearth of respect to the Brentford followers, however there was one particular person who was abusing me all recreation so I felt prefer it was solely proper to rejoice in entrance of him.
“It was directed to him and that precipitated a response within the final quarter-hour.”
Kudus on the double for West Ham
Mohammed Kudus is trying like one of many buys of the season after West Ham signed him from Ajax for round $48 million in August.
He struck twice as David Moyes’ group beat Wolves 3-0 at London Stadium.
The attacker had additionally scored in Thursday’s Europa League win in opposition to Freiburg and his double on Sunday made it 4 targets in his final 5 video games. He has eight targets in all competitions for West Ham.
Jarrod Bowen was additionally on the scoresheet for his tenth of the season.
Tom Lockyer undergoes scans
Luton captain Tom Lockyer was present process checks and scans following his cardiac arrest on Saturday, Luton mentioned.
The defender collapsed on the sector throughout his group’s recreation in opposition to Bournemouth, which was deserted.
