Liverpool’s pursuit of a Champions League spot suffered a devastating blow at Old Trafford as their recent momentum ground to a halt in a chaotic 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United.
In a contest that didn’t disappoint in the entertainment stakes for the neutral, Arne Slot’s Reds ended up feeling the stinging pain of another late defeat, as Kobbie Mainoo powered home a late winner for Michael Carrick’s hosts, to gift United a narrow 3-2 win.
United secured their Champions League spot in the league standings, while Liverpool is left to precariously hang onto a spot inside the top five in the ever-changing division on goal difference, after an unconvincing display in Manchester.
Sucker punched by a double blow of goals in the first half courtesy of a returning Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, after only 14 minutes, it was always going to be a mountain to climb for Slot’s side to pick up a win on their travels to their arch rivals, having had to deal with such an early setback.
The Reds looked to have salvaged their afternoon with a spirited second-half fightback. Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo both found the net to drag the visitors level, capitalising on a pair of defensive gifts to silence the home crowd.
However, the resurgence was brutally cut short when Mainoo struck late to settle the contest, leaving the Reds empty-handed despite their second-half grit.
After a winning run that had reignited belief in a top-four finish, this sobering result serves as a bitter reminder of the fine margins at the summit, leaving a significant dent in Liverpool’s European ambitions.
Now up to 11 defeats for the season in the Premier League, after losing to their North West enemy, the pitchforks could well be back out for the under-fire Dutchman, with five major talking points to discuss at the full-time whistle.
1. Liverpool’s set-piece frailties are back on display
Arne Slot would have arrived at Old Trafford demanding defensive transition and discipline, hoping his side could weather the inevitable early storm from Michael Carrick’s men.
Instead, those plans were torn up within seconds as the Reds appeared uncharacteristically porous from the first whistle.
The fragility was ruthlessly punished when Matheus Cunha, having only passed a late fitness test to feature, thumped home the opener for the hosts, capitalising on a collective failure to clear a corner that Liverpool really should have dealt with.
Freddie Woodman just couldn’t get down quickly enough to deny the Brazilian attacker, who sent the Old Trafford masses into raptures.
Staggeringly, off the back of this sixth-minute goal, beating the stand-in keeper, Liverpool have now given up 17 goals from set-piece situations this season, which is their most ever conceded in a single campaign.
The previous record was 16, which was the sizeable tally conceded all the way back in the 1992-93 season, with Slot entering the history books at the close of the action-packed game for all the wrong reasons, as opposed to clinching back-to-back Old Trafford victories.
2. Goals conceded record is very worrying
The worrying records don’t end here, either, unfortunately, with the reigning Premier League champions now up to 70+ goals conceded for the entire campaign in all competitions, off the back of feeling charitable in Manchester.
Alongside this statistic, making Liverpool fans everywhere grimace, the Reds have now also given up 46 goals in total, just in the top-flight alone, which is the most by a holder of the Premier League title since Leicester City leaked 63 during the 2016-17 season.
Slot, of course, wasn’t helped by the fact Woodman had to stay in goal for this full-blooded affair, with Alisson remaining out of action through injury, but the amount of goals conceded just isn’t good enough, whatever excuses can be made to try and justify it.
3. Szoboszlai continues to shine
No matter how gloomy Liverpool’s unfolding season has begun to look, Dominik Szoboszlai has consistently stood out as a bright spark, and he was that, again, at Old Trafford.
Indeed, his fantastic solo effort, right after the second half had started, gave Liverpool a lifeline after a nervy first 45 minutes.
That takes his goal tally for the season, in all competitions, to a mighty 13, which is the most he’s ever managed in his playing career across one campaign, with his previous best stuck at 12 on the books of RB Leipzig.
Moreover, the recent March Player of the Month winner joined an exclusive club of players after the dust had settled on the breathless 3-2 loss, with 13 goals and ten assists for the season, meaning he’s one of only three players to have scored and assisted 10+ goals this campaign in all competitions.
Rayan Cherki and Jarrod Bowen are the other two attackers who have managed this feat, with Szoboszlai undoubtedly Liverpool’s player of the season, at this point, away from just his monthly awards.
4. Gakpo loves playing against the Red Devils
While there were several underperformers for Slot’s men, away from Szoboszlai stealing the limelight, Cody Gakpo was also a standout individual in attack.
Potentially burdened by the responsibility of being a lively focal point up top for the visitors, with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Mohamed Salah sidelined, the Dutchman would have trudged off at the end pleased with his own display, instead, as he scored Liverpool’s equaliser on Sunday afternoon.
That was, amazingly, Gakpo’s fourth strike against the Red Devils, from his last five games playing the Manchester outfit, with the often criticised forward also collecting his 50th Liverpool goal when beating Senne Lammens.
5.Mac Allister is nearing the end of his Liverpool career
In stark contrast to the 26-year-old answering back to his critics, Alexis Mac Allister put in a performance that would only strengthen claims that the World Cup-winning midfielder isn’t worthy of sticking it out with the Reds as a first-team option anymore.
Offering up a weak clearance late on, which helped Mainoo on his way to beat a stationary Woodman, it was a feeble display throughout from a star who has been praised recently by Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez.
Indeed, Liverpool must be tempted to get rid of him even more now after his disappointing showing at Old Trafford, with zero firepower on display, too, from the waning South American, as he fired zero shots at Lammens’ net.
He’s far from being the only problem in the Liverpool camp at the moment, in his slight defence, with Slot needing to get an instant reaction out of his troops when Chelsea travel to Anfield next weekend.
ReadLiverpool Verdict
The defeat does more than just sting the pride; it leaves the Reds’ Champions League ambitions hanging by a thread. With Manchester United now having secured their seat at Europe’s top table, Liverpool finds itself looking over their shoulder, clinging to fifth place by the skin of their teeth.
Arne Slot faces a defining few weeks ahead. Indeed, the “Dutch revolution” is at a crossroads, and with Chelsea looming at Anfield, there is no longer any margin for error.
If the Reds are to salvage their season and secure elite European football, they must find a way to marry their attacking spark with a defensive resolve that has been sorely lacking. The pitchforks may be out, but only an immediate response on home turf will silence the growing noise of discontent.
