Gary Neville believes Manchester United targeted a Liverpool player during Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield.
There were fears United would be on the receiving end of an embarrassing scoreline given the fortunes of both sides going into the match.
United had lost four games in a row and were beaten by Newcastle United, Wolves and Bournemouth without scoring a goal.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had won four games on the bounce, putting five past West Ham and six past Tottenham over the Christmas period.
But after withstanding some early pressure, Manchester United grew into the game and took the lead shortly after half-time through Lisandro Martinez.
United’s opener came down the left-hand side with Trent Alexander-Arnold enduring a difficult afternoon and attracting brutal criticism from the likes of ex-Old Trafford captain Roy Keane.
The Premier League leaders equalised through Cody Gakpo and then went ahead courtesy of another Mohamed Salah goal, this time from the penalty spot after Matthijs de Ligt handled in the box.
Manchester United refused to give up, however, and earned a well-deserved equaliser through Amad Diallo’s 80th-minute goal.
United’s second also came down Alexander-Arnold’s side of the pitch and Neville believes the visitors purposely targeted the Liverpool right-back, who was mercifully subbed off late on shortly after receiving a yellow card.
‘From the first minute, [Manchester United’s] Diogo Dalot thought, “I’ve got you”,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast in reference to the Portuguese’s battle with England star Alexander-Arnold.
‘Dalot hasn’t run past anyone in six weeks. He’s been willing but he’s been on that left wing and has just passed it back.
‘The first time he got the ball today he thought, “I’m having you”.’
Assessing Manchester United’s promising performance at Anfield, Old Trafford legend Neville added: ‘It’s the best performance I think under Ruben Amorim, maybe all season by a mile.
‘To come to Anfield, the best team in the league this year surpasses that victory at [Manchester] City the other week.
‘Man City were in a bad moment and the way the game went, they were a little fortunate to get the victory. I thought United today were magnificent from minute one.
‘We were expecting the worst. There’s no Manchester United fan that woke up in the morning and wasn’t thinking the worst will happen today. But they more than deserved the point.’
It has been suggested that Alexander-Arnold struggled against United due to the intense speculation surrounding his future at Liverpool.
Real Madrid submitted a bid for the full-back over the weekend, which was rejected by the Reds, and now are considering making a new offer.
If they fail to sign Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window, Real Madrid are expected to bring the Liverpool academy graduate to the Bernabeu in the summer on a free transfer.
Liverpool remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League despite being held by Manchester United, who are just 13th in the table.
Arne Slot’s side face Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night while United return to action next weekend against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
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