Today, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) issued an apology to Manchester United for allowing Muhammad Salah’s goal that was scored offside to stand against Manchester United.

A late Cole Palmer double condemned United to defeat at Stamford Bridge on Thursday and that represented a huge blow to the hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

United beat Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup quarter-final three weeks ago and another victory over the Merseysiders would have been perfect tonic after a chastening night in West London.

But the points were shared, with Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah all getting on the scoresheet in an enthralling encounter with end-to-end action.

Liverpool took the lead after 20 minutes and would have been disappointed to only be leading 1-0 at the break, but United sparked a comeback and led 2-1 after the hour mark.

Salah then converted a penalty with 10 minutes remaining to ensure a point for his side.

Recap what happened at Old Trafford here.

KEY EVENTS

United player ratings as Mainoo good vs Liverpool

17:34

FULL-TIME! United 2-2 Liverpool

17:26

82′ – MUN 2-2 LIV – GOAL! 2-2 LIVERPOOL! (Salah)

17:12

81′ – MUN 2-1 LIV – Liverpool penalty

17:11

66′ – MUN 2-1 LIV – GOAL! 2-1 UNITED! (Mainoo)

16:56

50′ – MUN 1-1 LIV – GOAL! 1-1 UNITED! (Fernandes)

16:40

21′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – GOAL! 1-0 LIVERPOOL! (Diaz)

15:54

19:02STEVEN RAILSTON

Klopp aims dig at United performance

Jurgen Klopp derided Manchester United’s performance against Liverpool by suggesting they would definitely lose to Arsenal if they play the same way.

Liverpool led 1-0 at half-time at Old Trafford, having had 15 shots to United’s zero, yet Bruno Fernandes struck an audacious equaliser in the 50th minute and Kobbie Mainoo curled in majestically to put United 2-1 up.

Mohamed Salah slotted in an 84th-minute penalty to deny United victory but Liverpool will rue dropping points against a United side that has won one of their past six Premier League games.

United fans heckled Klopp with a chorus of “Jurgen’s cracking up” and again at full-time as he approached the tunnel. Klopp cupped his ear in response.

League leaders Arsenal travel to Old Trafford next month and Klopp suggested he would cheer on United if Liverpool are still competing for the title.

“Probably,” Klopp said. “If we are still around then that would be great. But Arsenal is a good football team. If they play like today, Arsenal will win the game, I am 100% sure.

“I am sorry to say that. It is a fact we should have won both games but didn’t.”

Salah’s leveller marked the 29th goal that has been scored in the 80th minute or beyond in United’s 90-minute games this season and the fourth late goal they have conceded in the last three games.

United have dropped seven points from winning positions late on in their last three matches.

“First of all, it’s very disappointing when you put yourselves three times in the week in a winning position just before the end of the game but then drop points,” Ten Hag admitted. “We have all seen some poor decisions.

“All three games had poor decisions and not every time the same players. What is not helping is we have 27 different shapes in the backline, the routines aren’t there, but still we have to improve. The sooner the better.”

Here’s what the Liverpool boss had to say on the match.

“We should have won the game, that is clear. We should have had other goals in the first half already. No shots in the first half and 1-0 is the lowest we could expect. Really well done from Bruno.

Then the stadium is coming and we needed a few minutes to settle again and they scored another screamer. We had big chances before and after they scored. As far as I’m concerned, we have a point more than we did before. They put an extra shift in, that’s how it is. We will face that again against Everton. Fully deserved equaliser.

“I think the Dom Szoboszlai chance was an incredible save from Onana. The other ones, we were in a bit of a rush, I would have loved us to take an extra touch. We have to be calm in the whole journey.

The goals we scored brought us to where we are right now. We have Europa League on Thursday and then it’s Crystal Palace. Games are coming thick and fast, that is good for us. I’m not over the moon but it’s OK.

“I’m not angry at all with the boys but in the game I’m not just going to let things happen. We dropped too deep. There were plenty of situations where we could have defended the ball. You need to be proactive.

“We play now at home against Atalanta, difficult game but at home and then another. We don’t have many home games left. The team who wins the league in the end should deserve it. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.”

18:47STEVEN RAILSTON

What Ten Hag told United players at half-time

Erik ten Hag told his Manchester United squad they needed to win more duels and switch play quicker after a poor first-half performance against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

United hadn’t been in the game in the first 45 minutes and trailed 1-0 at the break, although they could have been further behind, having failed to muster a shot while Liverpool had 15.

But they were much improved after the break, with Bruno Fernandes capitalising on a Jarell Quansah mistake to score from 45 yards and Kobbie Mainoo giving them the lead before Mohamed Salah’s penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw.

Ten Hag only changed some minor details with his side at the break, reinforcing the message and telling them to be more combative in their approach.

“I think most important was that when we had decisive moments first half we lost the duels and our decision-making in the half spaces, we weren’t quick enough,” he said.

“We encouraged the team at half-time to win those duels, the moment you win those and then make a change to the far side half space and you create an overload and you will create.

We didn’t take advantage in the first half and the second half we did. We needed a moment, to punish a mistake and that got us back in the game.”

Mainoo’s goal was an outstanding finish and Ten Hag was particularly pleased that it was a move from the training ground, aimed at moving the play across and exploiting those spaces in the Liverpool set-up.

“It was a very good team goal, a goal from out of the game plan, so very proud the team could transfer this the way we did, to get the ball to the far side half space and get the switch and the finish was brilliant,” he said.

18:08STEVEN RAILSTON

Mainoo has been exceptional

He spoke to MUTV after the game and said the following:

17:58STEVEN RAILSTON

United respond to half-time reception in Liverpool draw

One-nil down, 15 shots faced and no shot at the Liverpool goal. Yet Manchester United’s exit at half-time was soundtracked to cheers rather than jeers. They were louder within five minutes of the restart. And again in the 67th minute.

For the second month running at the Stretford End, United levelled against Liverpool with something out of nothing. Jarell Quansah’s careless pass, clipped in magnificently by Bruno Fernandes, transformed a non-event into a contest.

Kobbie Mainoo, majestic against Liverpool last month, was minutes away from the matchwinner with his first Old Trafford goal. Jurgen Klopp, impatient with Liverpool’s forwards at 1-0, let rip at 1-2.

Whatever Erik ten Hag’s fate, he has reserved his best moments for games with Liverpool. Or rather, the players have.

Ten Hag was on the cusp of a home hat-trick against Liverpool until Aaron Wan-Bissaka overestimated the reach of his sliding tackle to upend Harvey Elliott. Elliott, robbed of the ball for Amad’s winner in the cup tie, goaded Wan-Bissaka.

United’s followers sang “Oh United, we love you” as full-time loomed. Antony had a presentable chance to win it, eerily from practically the same patch of grass Amad did in the quarter-final. Elliott had a later chance and his volley was gathered cleanly by Andre Onana.

After the final whistle, the Stretford End sang about returning to Wembley. United’s league campaign feels a write-off, merely a question of which Europa competition they will compete in next season. Their season will not be judged by the FA Cup but it is the focus of the matchgoers.

United have one win in their past six league fixtures and remain marooned in sixth. Newcastle, likely their penultimate opponents in the rescheduled game at Old Trafford, lurk only two points behind.

There is some consolation for United fans in halting Liverpool’s momentum after they failed to return to the summit. The Stretford burst into a chorus of “Jurgen’s cracking up” during the game and it continued when he approached the tunnel.

17:34KEY EVENT

United player ratings as Mainoo good vs Liverpool

Andre Onana

Made one particularly good save from Dominik Szoboszlai and had to repel other efforts as Liverpool tried and failed to go 2-0 up. 7

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Lost Darwin Nunez for the corner Liverpool scored from and prone to panicky moments. Claimed an unlikely assist for Kobbie Mainoo but brainlessly conceded a penalty. 5

Willy Kambwala

Only his second United start and drew applause from Erik ten Hag for a recovery tackle at 1-0 that proved crucial as United equalised. 7

Harry Maguire

Held the fort gallantly alongside his fifth different partner of the season in Kambwala and dominated the aerial duels. Defended stoically. 7

Diogo Dalot

Did more defending than attacking in the first half but became more proactive in the second as Liverpool let United take the initiative. 6

The full ratings continue here.

17:26KEY EVENT

FULL-TIME! United 2-2 Liverpool

That’s the final whistle at Old Trafford. What an absolutely bonkers game of football.

Fernandes and Mainoo on the scoresheet for United, while Diaz and Salah scored Liverpool’s goals. The points were shared and most would have taken that at the start of the day.

There’s always drama with United this season and this game was no exception.