Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak

Manchester United’s Amad Diallo celebrates scoring their second goal with Rasmus Hojlund. (Reuters)
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo celebrates scoring their second goal with Rasmus Hojlund. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 05 January 2025

Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak

Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak
  • United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez
  • Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested

LIVERPOOL: Manchester United rallied to snap a four-game losing streak and halt Liverpool’s romp toward the Premier League title in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool move six points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand to come, over second-placed Arsenal.
But this was an opportunity lost for Arne Slot’s men after they came from behind to lead 2-1 through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez and got the point a much-improved performance deserved when Amad Diallo levelled on 80 minutes.
A point edges the Red Devils up to 13th in the table and seven clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested ahead of the game and so it proved.
United had been carved open at will by Newcastle in a dismal 2-0 defeat on Monday that left manager Ruben Amorim declaring they were in a relegation battle.
Amorim’s hand was strengthened by the return of captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension, while Kobbie Mainoo also returned to the starting line-up.
The Portuguese’s plan to frustrate Liverpool worked but the home side did have the chances early on to make the breakthrough.
Gakpo prodded past the far post from Ryan Gravenberch’s through ball.
Moments later Salah picked out Alexis Mac Allister with a sumptuous pass that the Argentine caught flush and forced Andre Onana into a fine save with his feet.
United took time to begin to impose themselves as an attacking threat but should have been in front before the break.
Diallo miscued his header with the goal gaping from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Rasmus Hojlund then had the best chance of the first half when he raced in behind the Liverpool defense but could not beat Alisson Becker.
However, confidence was suddenly coursing back into United players who have looked bereft in recent weeks.
The visitors’ breakthrough came from an unlikely source as Martinez showed his strikers how to finish with a blistering hit in off the underside of the bar for just his second goal for the club.
The Anfield crowd were beginning to get restless as the league leaders were briefly at sixes and sevens.
However, Liverpool’s position at the top of the table owes much to the depth of firepower they possess.
Even on a quiet day for Salah, they had an in-form forward to come up with the moment of magic required to turn the game.
Gakpo turned inside his Dutch international colleague Matthijs de Ligt and blasted high past Onana for his 10th goal in 15 games on the hour mark.
Despite the equalizer Slot immediately made two offensive changes, as Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were introduced, and got his reward.
MacAllister’s header flicked off De Ligt’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area and a VAR review resulted in the awarding of a spot-kick.
Salah smashed low and hard beyond Onana for his 18th Premier League goal in 19 games.
However, United’s spirited display got the point it merited to halt an alarming losing streak for Amorim so early in his reign.
Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude has been questioned by his new boss but the Argentine came off the bench to make the equalizer as his low cross was turned in by Diallo.
And it should have been even better for United when Harry Maguire spooned Joshua Zirkzee’s pass over the bar with the goal gaping deep into stoppage time.


Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games schedule revealed

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games schedule revealed
Updated 13 November 2025

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games schedule revealed

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games schedule revealed
  • LA28 revealed a detailed schedule earlier than usual. It starts with the opening ceremony on July 14 and ends with the closing ceremony on July 30
  • Track and field events will be held in the first week of the Games, with swimming in the second week
  • Cricket rejoins the Olympic lineup after more than a century with the women’s final on July 20 and the men’s final on July 29

LOS ANGELES: The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics competition schedule was unveiled on Wednesday by organizers, including a showcase spot for the women’s 100 meters and a Super Saturday session.

LA28 revealed a detailed schedule earlier than usual. It starts with the opening ceremony on July 14 and ends with the closing ceremony on July 30.

The biggest-ever Games will feature 11,200 athletes in 51 sports across 49 venues.

Every team sport will feature an equal or greater number of women’s teams compared to men’s teams for the first time with 50.5 percent of total athletes being women.

On day one, July 15, the most women’s finals ever held on one day will be contested, starting with women’s triathlon with a spotlight on the women’s 100 meters.

“We want to come out in these Games with a bang. We want to start day one with a showcase of the fastest females in the world,” LA28 chief of sport Shana Ferguson said.

Doing so will mean women must run three 100m heats in one day.

“We did speak at length with athletes. It was a largely positive conversation,” Janet Evans, LA28 chief athlete officer, said.

“We’re kicking off the athletic competition with one of the marquee events for women athletes.

“When we presented it to the athletes that way, there was excitement. They said let me know early and I’ll train to run three 100s in one day.”

Athletics will for the first time in history span the entire Games, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe describing the schedule as “both innovative but also honors tradition.”

World and Olympic medalist Sha’Carri Richardson remarked: “Track and field is having its moment, and the road to LA28 is about to be something special, especially for the women’s sprints.”

The American, who won women’s 4x100 relay gold and silver in the 100m in Paris last year, added: “The talent, energy, and competition — it’s all going to shine. Just look at day one of the LA Games.”

Organizers flipped swimming and athletics from the traditional schedule so the opening ceremony venue, SoFi Stadium, could also host swimming in the second week.

Track and field events will be held in the first week of the Games, with swimming in the second week.

Super Saturday

“You move to the second week. You have 38,000 people in the stands,” Evans said. “Having 38,000 fans watch my favorite sport is exciting as well.”

Swimmers also have a better chance to attend the opening ceremony without next-morning races to consider.

A “Super Saturday” schedule on July 29 includes 26 finals sessions in 23 sports, including 15 gold and bronze medal team matches and finals in 15 individual sports.

Among Olympic champions to be crowned on that day are those in athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cricket, golf, football, swimming and tennis.

The last Olympic champions will be crowned in swimming just before the closing ceremony.

Organizers scheduled the marathons on the final weekend, the women’s race on July 29 and the men’s marathon on July 30.

No dynamic pricing

About 14 million tickets will be available for Olympic events, with pricing details to be announced later, but dynamic pricing is not being considered, Ferguson said.

Olympic and sport federation officials have helped create the LA28 schedule.

“We don’t do any of this schedule without them,” Ferguson said.

Weather considerations went into the plan, with some sessions moved into the evening to have cooler conditions, including for horses at Santa Anita for equestrian events.

Baseball and softball will return to the Olympic lineup. Baseball will be played at Dodger Stadium, home of the reigning Major League Baseball champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with medal games July 19.

Baseball will begin on July 13, a day ahead of the opening ceremony, with a new competition window to allow MLB players to compete in the Olympics.

Cricket rejoins the Olympic lineup after more than a century with the women’s final on July 20 and the men’s final on July 29.

Lacrosse, on the 1908 London Olympic calendar and later a demonstration sport, will return with the men’s and women’s finals on July 29.

Los Angeles will also introduce American flag football and squash on July 15 for Olympic debuts.

Details for the Olympic football tournament, to be staged across the United States, and the Los Angeles Paralympics will be announced later.

Ticket registration for the LA Olympics will begin in January.