A night of redemption for Manchester United was not without its usual torment at Anfield. Only seconds remained of a thrilling battle between the two old rivals when Joshua Zirkzee, who was mercilessly taunted by the Old Trafford faithful on Monday, stared at Alisson’s goal.

He spurned attempts at glory, preferring to play Harry Maguire, another maligned figure during United’s long decline. He found Row Z of the Anfield Road stand and United continued to wait for their first win at Liverpool in nine years. Ruben Amorim crouched as the late miss unfolded and soon left the ball through the Anfield tunnel, although there was plenty of encouragement here for the beleaguered United boss.

Liverpool remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League and are on course to equal United’s 20 league titles by the end of the season, also breaking the club’s longest unbeaten run against United. But there was frustration in the home ranks that they had failed to worsen their rivals’ misery. The conditions for fight and organization were shown by United. In the latter case there was an understandable lack of quality and confidence, but at least there was a clear plan to keep the Premier League leaders at bay and a determination to grind out a result.

There were also legs in the visitors’ midfield after Amorim dropped Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to the bench and called up Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo in the middle following Monday’s defeat to Newcastle. The desire to leave Newcastle also spread to the traveling fans, who chanted Zirkzee’s name in recognition of the humiliation he suffered when he was taunted after 33 minutes at Old Trafford.

United played compactly and denied Liverpool space in the first half, but both teams created excellent chances to lift the spirits of the cold and wet crowd. The snow was cleared before kick-off, but the overnight fall and subsequent incessant rain resulted in a waterlogged pitch.

Liverpool took advantage of the circumstances and created their first chance of the game with two excellent passes from Luis Díaz to Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands international beat André Onana with a deft lob, but his attempt sailed over the United goalkeeper and past the far post.

Another exquisite pass got the visitors’ defense going again a few moments later. Mohamed Salah read Alexis Mac Allister’s run perfectly. The world champion, once again outstanding for Liverpool, scored the first goal with Salah’s thrown ball, but Onana blocked it with his legs from close range. The pressure on Liverpool increased and with it the feeling of an inevitable breakthrough.

It was to United’s credit that there was a fleeting sensation in the first half. Amorim’s team combined defensive resilience with a threat of their own. The biggest danger for the visitors came from the left side, where Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Højlund were successful in the space behind Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Liverpool right-back has come under more intense scrutiny than ever after Real Madrid’s failure to deliver earlier in the week. The spotlight was relentless. Amad Diallo should have given United the lead when Dalot broke away from Alexander-Arnold and centered on the young winger, who was free in the six-yard area. However, Diallo anticipated the cross and managed to direct a header away from Alisson’s goal, accidentally hitting the Liverpool goalkeeper in the back with his knee.

Just before half-time, Højlund had another good chance to score when he ran behind the Liverpool defense and intercepted Lisandro Martínez’s through ball. Alisson parried from a tight angle before Alexander-Arnold blocked Mainoo’s follow-up shot.

Second-half improvements characterized Liverpool’s title hunt. This was not without complications and the need to delve into these vast reserves of experience and faith. Seven minutes after the restart, United stunned Anfield and took the lead in style. Martínez was first to score from Alexander-Arnold’s hopeful free-kick and fed Fernandes before continuing his attack into the Liverpool penalty area. The United captain returned a deft pass to Martínez, who fired an unstoppable finish under Alisson’s crossbar from a tight angle.

The defender’s first goal of the season sparked wild celebrations in the United department. They were interrupted after seven minutes when Gakpo scored an equally impressive finish from an awkward angle. Gakpo, who was played on the left by Mac Allister, was asked to fall back onto his right foot by a careless, exaggerated lunge from Matthijs De Ligt. The striker took full advantage of his international teammate’s mistake to beat Onana with a powerful shot into the net.

De Ligt was caught out for the second time as Liverpool took the lead thanks to VAR intervention. Referee Michael Oliver initially allowed play to continue when Mac Allister’s header from a cross from Alexander-Arnold hit the United defender’s raised arm. The close proximity could have been the only reason. VAR recommended looking at the monitor on the sidelines. De Ligt’s arm was raised in an unnatural position and Salah swept the resulting, inevitable penalty past Onana’s left hand.

United once again called for fight and effort. Fernandes released Alejandro Garnacho with a fine pass down the left side. The substitute hit a low cross behind the retreating Liverpool defense and Diallo was able to equalize from six meters out. Both teams could have achieved victory in a turbulent final. Fernandes almost caught Alisson at his near post, Diogo Jota’s shot was deflected across goal and Virgil van Dijk headed tamely towards Onana from the resulting corner.