Super sub Javier Hernandez rescued a point for Manchester United in a tense battle against Liverpool at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard put Liverpool ahead after 68 minutes from a free-kick after Ryan Giggs broke away to leave a gap in the United wall.
But Hernandez headed United level in fine style after 81 minutes, just five minutes after he had stepped off the bench.
Wayne Rooney's demotion to the bench summed up his miserable week after his England sending-off and subsequent three-match ban for Euro 2012, which was the talking point before kick-off.
Nani was also left on the bench, with Phil Jones used in midfield as boss Sir Alex Ferguson looked to tighten things up.
The first half was essentially about trying to establish a grip on the game and although Liverpool had the better of that scrap early on United had done enough to restore the balance by the interval.
Both sides had chances to open the scoring with Jones heading Patrice Evra's deep left-wing cross into the side-netting when he should have done better.
A similar accusation could have been levelled at Luis Suarez, who looked like he would give Rio Ferdinand a torrid time after their opening exchanges but found the United defender a worthy opponent as the half drew on.
Chance
The Uruguay international found himself with only David de Gea to beat when Charlie Adam's 34th-minute shot kindly rebounded off Jonny Evans but the striker shot straight at the goalkeeper who parried the ball to safety.
Early in the second half Ashley Young's 25-yard free-kick briefly had Jose Reina scrambling to claim at the second attempt but the tide was gradually turning in favour of the hosts.
They felt they should have had a penalty when Dirk Kuyt's header struck the arm of Evans. And when Ferdinand, who had been booked for an earlier foul on Suarez, tripped a charging Adam with the slightest of touches as he threatened to break into the penalty area, the Liverpool fans were convinced he should have been sent off.
Gerrard, however, exacted a greater punishment when he curled home a low shot from the resulting 25-yard free-kick after Giggs left a space in the wall.
Rooney and Nani were immediately sent on, with the latter blazing a shot well over, before fellow substitute Hernandez was introduced for the final 15 minutes.
And he made his mark within six minutes of coming on as Danny Welbeck flicked on a left-wing cross and the youngster headed home a sharp chance unmarked at the far post.
But United were indebted to De Gea, who has come in for a fair amount of criticism in his maiden season, as the Spaniard threw himself to his left to deny Dirk Kuyt.
He was in action again in injury time when he acrobatically tipped over a shot from Henderson, with the Liverpool midfielder also having a chance to win it even later only his header from Stewart Downing's cross dropping onto the roof of the net.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Liverpool 1 Manchester United 1
October 15, 2011
Comments
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That was a jittery United crew at the start, at first I thought Smalling was a Liverpool player in a blue shirt. But it was nice to see the fighting spirit develop in the second half.
Lots of excitement anyway and, probably with Nani starting on the right, we might have had a goal or two in the first half. Well done lads, lets get ‘em at Old Trafford.
Another poor performance, another game we could easily have lost. About time Giggs retired now. We even made Henderson look good.
outmanaged again. who picks a side with Giggs, Fletcher, Park and Rio? that's last year's team. where are the Latinos who bring some life to this team?
MOM -De GEA
what was fergie doing with that line-up?at times like this you wonder if he is getting too old for this job? can anyone seriously say they believed we could win the game with that team selection? liverpool were there for the taking and fergie bottled with his team selection.
if we had lost this game no-one could complain about it,we really didnt deserved the point we got either. as for rio,he looks finished as starter,what made it worse was suarez didnt do anything to him,rio didnt all himself!
as for giggs,how did he again finish a game? he is too slow and weak for top flight football. evans need to be sold too,he is a acident waiting to happen.
Do not understand your starting line-up today SA.Thank God for De Gea!Sorry Ryan,you need to be emergency backup only from now on..........we really need to get Tommy C back in midfield..........Fletcher and Evans..waste of space.C'mon you guys I'm coming to OT next Sunday to see you thump the Blues...but not with that display today!
Ryan Giggs!!! Someone gift him a skirt :-)
Fair result I think.
great performance by goalkeeper, fletcher very subdued , evra becoming a liability. expecting too much from jones he looked overwhelmed at times, crazy selection by manager, they were there for the taking, opportunity lost!!!
Wow, what a game! If the first half was the two teams cancelling each other out, the second half was brilliant football. We were adequate in the first. The most important thing early on was solidity at the back, and we achieved that. I loved how Sir Alex threw caution to the wind after they scored.
De Gea was awesome. That ended all doubts about him, and I hope his critics now see why we paid so much money for him. That save in stoppage time was brilliant.
The defence was really good, especially Smalling who had Downing in his pocket all afternoon. Evra was really good. I think he's slowly getting back to the level we saw from him a few years ago. I love the guy. Dealt with that twat Suarez properly.
The midfield was decent. I wasn't expecting creativity from them. Did their jobs very well, especially Park, Fletcher and Young. Once Nani came on, we had more width on the wings, more creativity.
Welbeck I thought had a quiet game. His control seemed off at times, but maybe it's just me.
Their goal was just shocking defending. It was a poor piece of defending from Rio to begin with, but you never expect the guy in the wall to pull away. Especially from an experienced player like Ryan Giggs.
A decent result. We now have a huge week ahead of us, with a must win game in Galati and a derby against City, who I suspect will be on top of the league by then. With both teams needing to win their mid-week games, it makes for a fascinating match.
Chicharito!!! He does what he does. Like an Ian Rush WITH football ability.
A saw was fair. Good to not lose to them at Anfield.
Tactics were a bit Mancini-like, but given the last games at Anfield, I think it was a smart move.
De Gae, NOT GERRARD, was man of the match for me.
Berbatov.... He must feel he's the right man at the wrong place.
City may take the lead now, but this was a good point that many teams will not gain over there.
Very lucky to get away with that. Giggs and Park were a waste and what was Giggs doing moving at that free kick. I know SAF probably had an eye on the next two games but we should have put on a better performance. Why was Downing not booked for simulation and then Young was for an innocuous tackle?
We were very fortunate to come away with a point. Too many players did not rise to the occasion but at least De Gea was in great form. The line-up seemed perverse in the extreme but we got away with it. We will need to play a lot better next weekend!!
good game, i thk manutd played very well today, especially in defends, de gea is now proving ppl wrong, wot a saved from him, kp it up de gea.
some incredibly poor performances from some of our players today.
giggs shocking and at fault for the goal.
park contributes nothing going forward
young was he on the pitch?
wellbeck ran his socks off with very little support from an incredibly poor 5 man midfield.
evans solid, evras best game in ages and special mention for de gea who was by far and away our best player.
the referee should have booked both dowling and adams for diving and he hardly gave united a decision all afternoon.
i always understood if a player in an offisde position was completley blocking the view of the goalkeeper he was deemed to be interfering with play and the goal should have been disallowed.
good result BUT POOR PERFORMANCE AGAIN.
No doubt that a few eyebrows were raised when the team was announced before kick-off, mine included. However, I can now understand SAF’s selection, and I thought that his tactics and substitutions were spot on.
Good performances by two maligned players from our MEN forum, Ferdinand and Fletcher. Well played both of you! However, my MOM - De Gea! Decent shifts from the rest, although the usual suspects will still have a go at the usual recipients?
I am more than satisfied with the result today, a damn good well-earned draw! Two very good sides provided us with a very good game. Before kick off I wanted us to gain four points from our next two league games – we are on track, roll on next week!
United ‘til I die!
What else is new with SAF. How do you expect to win with that lineup? really do not understand SAF at times, for all his success sometimes you wonder if he just gets in the way. I know it's a long season and you have to rotate but that midfield?? Ashley Young was the only possible threat down the left but the second the ball came near him there were 2 or three Liverpool defenders around him. Liverpool are weak defensively so we put out a slow plodding defensive midfield.
Yet again one must question FERGIE,he leaves Nani and Valencia on the bench and plays his pal Giggs who gave the ball away so often I lost count.He gave Liverpool their goal for failing to stand firm in the wall he turned like a little pussy and cost United a goal.
Rio is clutching at straws and without Vidic to carry him on his back he looks like he is to slow Evans and Fletcher still embarrass themselves themselves lets be honest what other top team would have an Irishman and a Scotsman playing for them.
Fergie left it far to late to make the changes it seem is back to the normal draws Liverpool were terrible bur for DE GEA we would have lost.I really hope Fergie calls it a day BERBATOV not even on the bench.
no other words for it....That was painfull-just wot is Fegie doing playing a formation like that with those players????
On a plus note we were dreadfull and didn't deserve anything and still came away with a point.......
We did well to salvage the tie with Barca. That was Barca wasn't it? What with all the diving and the lot. I expect it from Suarez, but Charlie Adam?...you're embarrassing yerself son.
Chicha's reaction time is really something.
Loved Rooney defending in front of De Gea, that is commitment, and did not go unrecognised by me.
I dont care what you have to say...............Evans wil get eaten alive by top wingers and strikers, VIDA where are you?
De Gea is the class act among world keepers.
The scum from Spain are gonna come knocking. Being an Athletico, we can expect him to be here a long time.
So much for the ESPN guy who said he may make a mistake in Soccernet live gamecast just before the match started in his comments.
Relax my fellow reds we are still unbeaten after having played most of the top teams.
Looking forward to City!!!!!!
i think giggs took one there for his private life rather then his team!
Livid . Awful awful team selection . Totally bottled it .
Please don`t anyone get on here and try to justify having Rooney Nani and Anderson on the bench and in their place Park Giggs and Fletch coz we come away with a point .
Well done Hernandez for getting us out of jail , fantastic goal and thought Welbeck did brilliant up there on his own and once again De Gea made some great saves but think he had better get used to someone standing infront of him at corners . Bit disappointed with Jones honestly thought he would have a blinder in CM and take the change of position in his stride with his ability but he looked a bit lost and his touch was heavy but he still had brilliant start to his United career .
Irrespective of recent results at Anfield this was 2 pts dropped for me . I fully expected us to win today , that is until I saw the team .
Rilo
Exiled Droylsden Red
A few points:
- Suarez is a diving cheat. Should have been sent off!
- We will have a hungry and rested team for the matches coming up after Fergies line up today.
- De Gae should now be considered the most talented keeper in the world. In three years time, he will be the best in the world. Better then Neuer.
- Liverpool gave it all they had today. This is what they have. We rested half a team...
- "King (sic) Kenny" will not win anything with this team
Created just about nothing which is disappointing.