Salah penalty earns Liverpool draw at Man Utd

Liverpool missed an opportunity to return top of the Premier League when they were held to a stalemate by Manchester United in another Old Trafford thriller as Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave the visitors a point.

Manager Jurgen Klopp and his players will wonder how they failed to avenge their FA Cup quarter-final defeat here last month, as they paid the price for missing several chances after outrunning the hosts for extended stretches.

Liverpool only had a Luis Diaz goal to show for their nearly complete first-half dominance, with 15 shots to none for United, whose manager Erik ten Hag was grateful for the visitors’ wastefulness and saves from goalie Andre Onana.

United, almost unbelievably, were gifted a lifeline five minutes after the break when Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah passed straight to Bruno Fernandes, who lifted a finish over stranded keeper Caoimhin Kelleher from the centre circle.

Kobbie Mainoo put them ahead after 67 minutes with a superb curling finish at the Stretford End for his first home goal.

But Liverpool salvaged the draw, which was the least they deserved, when Mohamed Salah scored from the spot with six minutes of normal time left after Aaron Wan-Bissaka lunged in late on Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool now lie second in the Premier League behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference, with Manchester City a point further back in third place.