Manchester United Have 99 Problems But Salah-Starrer Liverpool At Anfield Ain't One

Relegation, big-wig benchwarmers, Marcus Rashford placement/replacement, transfer policies, Old Trafford revival, and whatnot - the great Manchester United descent was in full swing when Ruben Amorim's Red Devils visited Anfield to renew their Premier League rivalry with Liverpool on Sunday. Already under the pump after the Newcastle botch job, Amorim-coached Man United produced a much-improved scoreline for the partisans at Anfield.

Quizzed by former Reds forward Daniel Sturridge at Anfield, a Liverpool faithful was bold enough to predict a 7-0 scoreline in the build-up to the showdown. Six hours later, the crestfallen Red Devils played out a four-goal thriller against table-toppers Liverpool to deny Arne Slot's men an eight-point lead at the top. Humiliated on New Year's Eve at the Theatre of Dreams, misfiring Manchester United successfully avoided four consecutive defeats (for the first time since 1979) in the Premier League.

Martinez saves Matthijs' blushes

Seven points from the relegation zone, Man United took a surprise lead over Liverpool when Lisandro Martinez fired a thunderous shot to outclass world-class Alisson Becker in the 52nd minute. While ex-Bayern Munich starman Matthijs de Ligt had another forgetful night, Argentina defender Martinez earned plaudits for his all-around show. The £56.7m signing from the house of Ajax almost engineered the opener through Rasmus Hojlund in the first half. Seven into the first half, Martinez cashed in on a Bruno Fernandes through ball to open the scoring for the Red Devils.

Salah sizzles again, completes side Suarez quest

A Cody Gakpo special forced Slot to extend the Dutchman's stay in the second half before Liverpool took the lead through free-scoring Mohamed Salah.