Gakpo still decisive, De Ligt crucified… The tops and flops

TOPS

Gakpo shines again

Like against Leicester two days earlier, when Liverpool was trailing and at the bottom of the hole, Cody Gakpo allowed the Reds to raise their heads. Like a great, the Dutchman was at the start and conclusion of the action to bring his team back to the score after Martinez's opener (52nd). Perfect dribble and unstoppable powerful shot for Onana (59th). Third consecutive goal for the former PSV player who, like many of his partners, seems to have reached a new milestone under the orders of Arne Slot.

Diallo as a savior

He was perhaps the least expected of his team on the offensive level and yet the kid Amad Diallo allowed the Red Devils to leave Anfield with a good point. In the tough at the start of the match, although the Ivorian often had difficulty gaining good support on an extremely slippery wet and frozen pitch, he never gave up to touch the Grail at the end of the match. On a good cross from his partner Garnacho, he got rid of the marking to adjust Alisson with a flat foot (80th).

FLOPS

Arnold mystifié

A meeting to forget for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. In view offensively, on the defensive level, the Briton was often late and worrying for his partners in the first restarts. If on several occasions his captain Virgil Van Dijk did not hesitate to take him back, his coach Arne Slot, aware of his side's difficulties against the Bruno Fernandes-Diogo Dalot duo, only whistled the end of the game too late. Arnold was guilty of the Mancunian equalizer and was almost sent off a few minutes later following a poorly controlled intervention.

De Ligt crucified

He's gotten us used to worse lately. If in his usual style, Matthijs de Ligt did not exude incredible serenity, the former Ajax defender at least provided the essentials in the air and on the restart for almost the entire match. But the Dutchman was guilty of an unforgivable error. On an almost innocuous header from Gakpo in the area, the 25-year-old player, with a bad reflex, hit the ball with his arm. No dispute possible, penalty for Liverpool and the specialist Salah who was quick to convert it (70th).

Hojlund in the fog

He is one of those scorers who is losing momentum. As if pushed back by the goal, Rasmus Hojlund can no longer do it at all. If his coach has lined him up again, the Dane recruited nearly 74 million in the summer of 2023 does not meet the expectations of many supporters. Since his double against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12, the Mancunian striker has no longer found the net. Symbol of his discomfort, despite being in an excellent position in the first period, he lost his duel against Alisson by poorly adjusting the Brazilian goalkeeper (42nd). An action which, in the end, costs his family dearly. Seven goals in all competitions for him this season, too few given expectations.