Manchester United beat the odds to grab a valuable 2-2 draw away at Liverpool in a game where they were heavily viewed as underdogs.
Ruben Amorim’s men showed plenty of attacking intent, taking shots against their opponents while refusing to lose hope after going 2-1 down following their 1-0 lead.
Given that Liverpool continued attacking throughout the match, it took all of United’s players to put in a powerful effort to come out with the draw against the Premier League leaders.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was one shining example of a player who showed up in attack and defence.
Martinez made a crucial block in the first half, keeping the score level after Luis Diaz sought out an early goal. In total, he made three tackles, three interceptions, four clearances, and one block, proving irreplaceable at the back for United.
He was the second-most active United player of the match defensively, making 11 defensive actions throughout the encounter.
With only one of four long balls reaching their target and 22 of 29 passes proving accurate (76%), Martinez was not at his best in the passing department.
Still, he provided one key pass and proved to be an unlikely source of attacking prowess.
Despite taking just one shot on goal throughout the match, one opportunity was all the Argentine needed to make all the difference.
In the 52nd minute, Martinez raced into the box to collect a pass from Bruno Fernandes, firing the ball into the top corner of the net on the far end to hand United an unlikely lead.
Of course, his physicality was also at play, winning three of five ground duels against a stubborn Liverpool lineup.
Ultimately, it was an impressive performance for Martinez who did well to show his worth and restore faith in a concerned United fanbase, especially given his and his team’s recent dip in form.
Hopefully, Martinez can build on this performance to cement his place in Amorim’s starting lineup.
(Stats via Sofascore)
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
