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Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp
Photo: Adam Vaughan / EPA
Scene of the game:
Before Jürgen Klopp clenched his fists, before Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana jumped into the wrong corner, before Liverpool scored their long overdue second goal, Mohamed Salah had problems controlling the ball. When the Egyptian has the ball at his feet, he usually obeys it. However, he had difficulty placing the ball on the edge of the penalty spot with his hands. The wind blew him back in his direction as if the weather was on United's side. When the ball remained calm, Salah did the same and converted the penalty to make the final score 2-2.
The result:
On the 32nd matchday of the Premier League, Manchester United won 2-2 (0-1) against Liverpool FC. Liverpool took the lead through Luis Díaz (23rd minute), Bruno Fernandes (50th) and Kobbie Mainoo (67th) turned the game around for United. Salah equalized in the final phase (84th).
The title fight:
In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen is currently breaking through the monotony of Bavarian champions, but with a superiority that provides variety but also boredom. The championship could be celebrated in Leverkusen as early as the next match day.
It's different in the Premier League: There, what is probably the most exciting title fight of the past ten years is getting more exciting with every match day. Manchester City were behind early on Saturday, but ultimately won 4-2. Arsenal had moved to the top of the table with a 3-0 win, to which German international Kai Havertz contributed a goal. Because Liverpool only played a draw, the Londoners stayed there - but only because of the better goal difference. City is third with one point less.
The first half:
While the summery April weather in German professional football caused drinking breaks in the first half in some places, the game in Manchester started - if you don't know, you guessed it - in pouring rain. In the first leg, ManUnited did what is known in English as “parking the bus”, i.e. defending mercilessly without any offensive ambitions.
After just 70 seconds it was clear: the team bus would play a minor role in this game. Manchester's Alejandro Garnacho scored after a counterattack, but had previously been offside (2nd). After ten erratic minutes, in which every loss of the ball seemed to lead to great opportunities, the guests took control and scored 1-0 after a corner from Luis Díaz (23rd). It stayed that way, although Liverpool fired 15 shots and United none. Klopp channeled his joy into his fist, his face remaining expressionless. He seemed happier in the wheat beer advertising.
Liverpool warned:
United is having a mixed season, almost constantly accompanied by the question of whether coach Eric ten Hag is the right person to make United a serious title candidate again. They are currently sixth in the league, well ahead of fifth. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have managed to get on Liverpool's nerves twice this season in different ways. In the first leg they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw with ultra-defensive football. It's still the only game this season in which Liverpool didn't score. Three weeks ago, when the two clubs met in the FA Cup quarter-finals, there was a contrast: United won a game full of twists and turns at home 4-3 in extra time after Liverpool had been ahead twice. It was probably the bitterest defeat in Klopp's farewell season so far.
The second half:
Ten Hag came out of the catacombs late and applauded towards the fans so that they would applaud towards the players. A few minutes later, without his intervention, things got loud again: Without any opposition pressure, Liverpool central defender Jarell Quansah played the ball to Manchester's Bruno Fernandes in his eleventh Premier League game. Standing in the center circle, he shot straight away and the ball sailed past the advanced goalkeeper and into the net (50th). It was United's first shot on goal.
One mistake and one goal:
Kobbie Mainoo, 19 years old, trained in Man United's youth system, started a Premier League game for the first time. In the first half he let Díaz run away before he scored to make it 1-0. In the 67th minute it was Mainoo himself who got too much space in the opponent's penalty area. He circled the ball into the far corner from around 15 meters and set Jürgen Klopp's jaw in motion. Mainoo was already one of United's best against Liverpool in the FA Cup. »Why isn't Kobbie Mainoo in this squad? Come on. The man was incredible today,” Enland icon Ian Wright posted on X afterwards. Mainoo was then promoted from the U21 squad to the England national team.
Masterful substitutions:
Klopp is a public advocate of fewer games and more substitutions. At least he got the latter in the 2022/23 season. Since then, five instead of four new players have been allowed onto the field. Klopp is currently making more of this than any other Premier League coach: According to The Athletic, substitute Liverpool players were involved in 22 league goals. In Manchester, Klopp made three substitutions shortly before United's opening goal, and a little later he made full use of his quota. Klopp's last substitute, Harvey Elliott, won the penalty in the final stages.
Theater of Nightmares:
Old Trafford, where Man United plays its home games, was once christened the “Theatre of Dreams” by Sir Bobby Charlton. For Klopp, the trips there were usually not an invitation to dream: Liverpool were only able to win two of the eleven away games at United during Klopp's tenure. He will probably not have fond memories of his last appearance at Old Trafford as Liverpool coach either.