Trent Alexander-Arnold paid homage to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard after thinking he’d scored against Manchester United.
In the seventh minute, the Liverpool defender pounced at the far post after United failed to clear their lines in front of the Stretford End.
But VAR quickly ruled the goal out because of a touch from team-mate Mohamed Salah, who was in an offside position.Wheeling away in celebration before the decision, Alexander-Arnold kissed the camera as Gerrard did on multiple occasions after scoring at Old Trafford.
The ex-Reds midfielder did the same after scoring for Liverpool in 2009, 2010 and 2014. However, Anthony Taylor’s watch signalled that the ball had indeed gone in. Liverpool manager Arne Slot thought he’d had a dream start in his first trip to Old Trafford, only for replays to show that Salah had got a flick on Luis Diaz’s pullback.
The move came courtesy of great play in midfield by Ryan Gravenberch, who drove forward and slotted Diaz in down the left of United’s 18-yard box. The hosts had started brightly but it didn’t take long for Slot’s side to assert themselves, with Diogo Jota having their first opportunity after Virgil van Dijk burst out of defence to forge a chance.
United were limited to slim opportunities on the counter attack and Erik ten Hag’s men looked to slow the game down each time the ball went out of play. New £42million signing Matthijs de Ligt had plenty of action in the opening half-four, tasked with halting Liverpool’s waves of attack.
But Liverpool broke United’s resolve in the 34th minute, with Diaz heading home after Salah’s deflected cross ballooned after to the back post. Casemiro gave the ball away up the pitch and Gravenberch was there to intercept his wayward pass, once again driving forward.
De Ligt was one of three changes made by Ten Hag, coming into the starting line-up in place of Harry Maguire.
Striker Joshua Zirkzee came in for the injured Mason Mount while Alejandro Garnacho replaced Amad. For Liverpool, Slot named an unchanged XI from the team that beat Brentford 2-0 at Anfield last Sunday.
