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Salah's late penalty earns Liverpool draw with Man Utd

Last updated on: April 08, 2024 08:36 IST

Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot late in the Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

IMAGE: Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot late in the Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Mohamed Salah scored a late equaliser from a penalty kick as Liverpool escaped Old Trafford with a single point in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United to climb to even on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Salah stroked home in the 84th minute for his sixth league goal at Old Trafford, the most of any visiting player in the league's history, overtaking Steven Gerrard's five.

 

With seven games remaining in the neck-and-neck title race, Liverpool and Arsenal have 71 points with the Gunners leading on goal difference. Holders Manchester City are third on 70 points, while United are sixth with 49.

Luis Diaz got Liverpool on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute when Dominik Szoboszlai swung in a corner that Darwin Nunez headed to the unmarked Colombian who hooked in a volley from close range.

But Bruno Fernandes scored a wild goal -- the United skipper's 50th league goal for the side -- with their first shot on target in the 50th minute when he latched on to a loose Liverpool pass and lobbed the ball from the centre circle past keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring Manchester United's second goal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho.

IMAGE: Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring Manchester United's second goal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Kobbie Mainoo had the Old Trafford faithful roaring with his rocket from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed into the far top corner in the 67th minute.

Mainoo was the first 18-year-old to score a league goal against Liverpool since Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal in 2005, and the delighted teenager sprinted to the corner flag to salute the crowd in celebration.

Liverpool were awarded their penalty when Harvey Elliott was taken down in the box.

It was the second time in recent weeks that Erik ten Hag's team had struck a blow against Liverpool, dispatching them from the FA Cup with a dramatic 4-3 quarter-final home win in extra time last month.

The match marked the first time Liverpool had failed to win a league game in which they held a lead since October against Brighton.

Liverpool dominated with 62.1% possession and 28 shots to the home side's nine. They kept United to zero shots on target in the first half of a league match for the first time since April 2022, also against Liverpool.

Alejandro Garnacho briefly had the United crowd on their feet with a goal in the second minute but it was chalked off for offside.

United have won just one of their past 12 Premier League games against Liverpool -- this fixture last season.

Spurs bolster Champions League qualifying bid with Forest win

Pedro Porro celebrates scoring Tottenham Hotspur's third goal against Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.

IMAGE: Pedro Porro celebrates scoring Tottenham Hotspur's third goal against Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur boosted their Champions League qualifying hopes with a 3-1 home win over relegation-battling Nottingham Forest on Sunday to move into fourth spot in the Premier League.

Second-half goals from Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro, after Forest's Chris Wood had cancelled out Murillo's own goal in the opening period, helped Spurs capitalise on rivals Aston Villa and Manchester United dropping points this weekend.

Tottenham's victory puts them level with Villa on 60 points but with a game in hand and leaves United trailing with 49 after their 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou, however, told reporters that he "couldn't care less about the race for fourth, what I care about is the way the team is progressing".

Tottenham led after 15 minutes when Brazilian Murillo, who minutes earlier almost scored an audacious goal from inside his own half, turned Timo Werner's cross into his own net.

Brennan Johnson then nearly doubled the home side's lead against his former club but the forward's effort was stopped by the strong hand of goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Spurs were rampant and a second goal seemed like an inevitability until Forest equalised against the run of play in the 27th minute through Wood's fourth goal in four games.

The New Zealand striker should have had a second 10 minutes before the break but smashed his shot against the post from close range.

Forest felt Spurs should have been down to 10 men shortly before halftime after James Maddison appeared to strike Ryan Yates off the ball but VAR declined to intervene.

Postecoglou revamped his midfield at the break, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur replacing Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr in a double switch that helped Spurs regain control.

Dutch defender van de Ven hit a thunderbolt from the edge of the area to restore Spurs' lead after 52 minutes before Pedro Porro produced a great finish six minutes later.

The defeat leaves Forest 17th with 25 points from 32 games, above third-bottom Luton Town only on goal difference.

McBurnie grabs late equaliser as Sheffield United hold Chelsea

Oli McBurnie celebrates scoring Sheffield United's second goal against Chelsea at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.

IMAGE: Oli McBurnie celebrates scoring Sheffield United's second goal against Chelsea at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

Sheffield United striker Ollie McBurnie snatched a stoppage-team equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea in his side's battle for Premier League survival.

The Blades remain bottom of the table on 16 points with seven games left, nine points behind Nottingham Forest in 17th, while Chelsea are ninth on 44 after extending their unbeaten run to seven league games.

For a long time it looked like the hosts were headed for another defeat until McBurnie's late strike.

United's frailties were exposed in the 11th minute when Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was left unmarked at a corner to steer home but Jayden Bogle levelled in the 32nd minute.

Gustavo Hamer sliced open the Blues defence with a superb pass to Bogle who beat goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic at his near post to prompt wild celebrations in the home crowd.

United came out strongly in the second half, creating several chances to take the lead, with McBurnie heading just wide in the 49th and Hamer curling an effort into the side netting with the outside of his boot five minutes later.

However, United's defence was caught flat-footed again in the 66th minute when Cole Palmer found Noni Madueke, who cut in from the right before firing high into the net past Ivo Grbic to put Chelsea back in front.

Again, the Blades poured forward and their perseverance paid off when McBurnie reacted quickest to a ball into the box three minutes into stoppage time, lashing it home from close range.

The home side had a great chance to grab all three points late on but failed to make the most of their numerical advantage on a late counter-attack and the game finished in a draw.

After grabbing the winner in the 11th minute of stoppage time against Manchester United in midweek, Chelsea were brought back to earth by then concession of a late equaliser.

Source: REUTERS
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