Gary Neville couldn’t conceal his frustration after Harry Maguire blew a crucial opportunity to snatch a dramatic win for Manchester United against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
In an electrifying encounter at Anfield, the first half ended goalless but far from dull. Lisandro Martinez broke the deadlock with a stunning goal, only for Cody Gakpo to level the score with a brilliant strike. Despite all odds Martinez has been defending the team inspite their previous performance.
Mohamed Salah then calmly converted a penalty to put Liverpool ahead, but Amad Diallo equalized shortly after, setting up a nail-biting finish.
Despite a spirited 90 minutes, neither side could claim victory. Maguire had the chance to seal the game in the dying moments but fired over from close range, leaving fans and pundits in disbelief.
Replays showed Joshua Zirkzee’s cross bouncing awkwardly just before Maguire’s attempt, but Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, was left stunned.
“Oh, my God! I can’t believe it,” Neville exclaimed. “It might’ve been offside, but Maguire didn’t know that. The ball bobbled awkwardly, hit halfway up his shin, and it’s gone.”
Analyzing the 2-2 draw, Neville praised the match: “It was fantastic. Over the years, these games have disappointed, with four goalless draws in the last eight.
But today, United showed real passion and quality. They deserved more than the draw. Harry Maguire’s miss was the chance to win it. Liverpool, though, remain in a strong position for the title.”
Roy Keane, analyzing from the Sky Sports studio, echoed Neville’s sentiments. While he felt a Maguire winner would have been “amazing,” he commended United’s spirited performance after enduring four consecutive losses in all competitions.
“They showed real fight,” Keane said. “That’s what I wanted to see. The quality was a bonus—scoring two goals and nearly winning at the end. Credit to both teams; neither parked the bus. It was a fair result, and both clubs can hold their heads high.”