Agony at Anfield: United’s Close Call

Manchester United's players were left heartbroken as Harry Maguire missed a golden chance to grab a last-minute winner against Liverpool.

January 6, 2025
2:04 pm

The Red Devils, seen as underdogs, surprised everyone with a performance full of grit, determination, and passion. In a nail-biting 2-2 draw against the Premier League leaders, they came so close to pulling off one of the season’s biggest upsets.

As the clock ticked into the seventh and final minute of stoppage time, Joshua Zirkzee raced down the right side. With Liverpool stretched, he selflessly passed the ball to an unmarked Maguire right in front of the goal. It was a perfect chance, but the defender’s shot flew over the crossbar.

Anfield let out a collective sigh. United’s players, devastated, reacted with despair. Some dropped to their knees, hands over their faces, while others stood frozen, staring at the spot where victory slipped away. Manager Ruben Amorim, who had been intense on the sidelines, sank to his knees in shared heartbreak. Goalkeeper Andre Onana fell flat on his back as the referee blew the final whistle.

Despite the tough ending, praise poured in for United’s impressive comeback. This was a team on a four-game losing streak, seemingly lacking belief or form. But at Anfield, they found their identity, their fight, and their spirit.

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Captain Bruno Fernandes, frustrated but determined, shared his thoughts on the game:
“I’m really upset. It frustrates me, especially since I finally played well. We know how tough it is to face Liverpool, but we gave it our all and played with heart. We can’t stop here. We need to carry this heart and passion into the next game.”

Lisandro Martínez, who scored first for United, echoed his captain’s feelings:
“Today, we showed the right spirit. We believed until the end. We should’ve won—we didn’t, but we tried. We need to focus on the positives. We were a different team than a few games ago; we played really well. We have to believe in ourselves more.”

Amorim, while clearly upset about the near-miss, didn’t blame Maguire for the late miss. Instead, he praised the defender’s effort:
“For me, missing chances or playing poorly isn’t the main issue. The big deal is that Harry gave everything on the pitch. That’s what matters most.”

United leave Anfield with a point, but more importantly, they leave with renewed hope. Their performance against the league’s top team shows that brighter days could be ahead—if they can build on this display.