If the measure of a Manchester United player is how he performs against their fiercest rivals, then Amad Diallo has begun in auspicious style. His United career is not yet 50 games old and yet he has displayed a capacity to have the final say against Manchester City and Liverpool alike. Last month he produced a game-changing late intervention in a Manchester derby; last March an extra-time winner against Liverpool. Here, with United trailing at Anfield and set for a fifth successive defeat, up popped Amad again. United instead became only the fifth team to deny the league leaders victory in Arne Slot’s reign.
For a team who have rarely arrived at Anfield as such underdogs, it was a triumph of sorts, though it could have been an actual win had Harry Maguire not blazed over in the 97th minute. “A big chance,” Slot admitted. He nevertheless deemed it “two points dropped”.
