Defending champion Liverpool suffered a bitter home defeat against Manchester United in the Premier League. Joker Florian Wirtz at least has a small sense of success.
Liverpool FC is slipping into a crisis and has lost its fourth competitive game in a row with a 1:2 (0:1) draw in the Premier League against Manchester United. Bryan Mbeumo (2nd) and Harry Maguire (84th) scored United’s happy win on Sunday. Cody Gakpo (78th) scored the goal and should have scored more often – he missed the post three times, among other things.
Florian Wirtz once again sat on the bench, coach Arne Slot gave Dominik Szoboszlai preference in the attacking midfield. The former Leverkusen player came onto the field after an hour together with Hugo Ekitiké and helped initiate Gakpo’s goal.
For the first time, two wins in a row under Amorim
Manchester coach Ruben Amorim ended an inglorious series: he had been United’s head coach for almost a year and had never won two games in a row. Manchester (9th place) moved within two points of Liverpool (fourth place) in the tight Premier League table.
Mbeumo scores early
United got off to a lightning start, with Mbeumo scoring after just 61 seconds from an outside-of-the-foot pass from Amad Diallo. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was partly to blame because he didn’t fully cover the short corner and the shot went awkwardly over his knee.
It took Liverpool only a short time to recover from the early setback. After 20 minutes, only centimeters were missing from an equalizer: After fine preparatory work by Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo flicked the ball from 16 meters to the right post.
Isak forgives promisingly
Manchester also remained dangerous and had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 four minutes later. Bruno Fernandes had a free shot from 15 meters, but only hit the right outside post.
United’s half-time lead was still flattering as Liverpool missed several good opportunities, particularly from Alexander Isak. However, the record signing did not hit the ball optimally once (29th) and six minutes later shot too imprecisely, Senne Lammens parried with his foot.
In addition, there was a deflected cross from the strong Gakpo, which dripped onto the inside post as an arc lamp.
Salah misses a great opportunity
Shortly after the break, the Dutchman failed to hit the goalpost for a third time and his beautiful right-foot shot hit the right post (50′). After an hour, Slot started the final offensive with a triple substitution, brought in new offensive forces in Wirtz and Ekitiké and took two defensive midfielders off the field. Shortly afterwards, Salah had the chance to equalize, but he missed from close range (65th).
Florian Wirtz in conversation with Arne Slot
United pulled back a long way in an attempt to preserve their lead over time. However, that didn’t work, Livepool applied pressure and forced the score 1-1: Wirtz passed in the penalty area to substitute Enrico Chiesa, who found Gakpo ready to shoot in front of the goal.
Maguire with a header
Title contenders Liverpool pushed for the next goal, but neglected to defend despite all their offense. Fernandes crossed directly into the six-yard box, where Maguire was able to head in unchallenged.
Liverpool tried everything after that and had a huge opportunity through Gakpo. But he headed wide of the goal from five meters after a beautiful cross from Jeremie Frimpong in the 87th.
Liverpool travels to Frankfurt
Liverpool continues on Wednesday with the Champions League game at Eintracht Frankfurt (9 p.m.). United host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday (6.30pm).