Gary Neville praises Manchester United trio for “outstanding” performances during Liverpool draw

Gary Neville has singled out three Manchester United players for their “brilliant” displays following their 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester United battled back to secure a 2-2 draw against league leaders Liverpool in a pulsating encounter at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, as Rúben Amorim’s men showcased their resilience.

The match began with United asserting control, aiming to stifle Liverpool’s attack through disciplined play and sharp passing. Despite the hosts’ pressure, United carved out opportunities, with Rasmus Højlund nearly breaking through just before half-time.

The second half began with a bang for United as Lisandro Martínez fired a clinical shot past Alisson, latching onto a precise assist from Bruno Fernandes to give Amorim’s side the lead.

However, Liverpool struck back swiftly, with Cody Gakpo finding the net to equalise before the hour mark. The home side then turned the tide when Mohammed Salah converted a penalty, awarded for a Matthijs de Ligt handball, to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead.

Refusing to back down, Amorim introduced Alejandro Garnacho, whose energy and creativity revitalised United. The substitute delivered a pinpoint assist for Amad Diallo, who coolly slotted home the equaliser with ten minutes remaining.

The final stages saw both teams relentlessly chasing a winner, with end-to-end action keeping the Anfield crowd on edge. In the end, neither side could find the breakthrough, and the game concluded with honours even. A spirited performance from United earned them a well-deserved point on Merseyside.

Neville reserves praise for three United players vs Liverpool

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, former United captain Gary Neville chose to single out three players for their brilliant performances that controlled the game.

“I thought we [Man United] were absolutely brilliant,” Neville told the Sky Sports panel following the result.

I thought Mainoo, Ugarte, and Fernandes controlled midfield. And [Ryan] Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, and [Alexis] Mac Allister have been outstanding all season.

“They’ve overrun teams in there, and I thought they [United’s midfielders] really did well, those three. The backline did well, but I thought those three were the standout players.

“I thought it was an outstanding performance, yeah.”

United’s midfield has been criticised on many occasions as Amorim continued to tinker with his squad and find the balance he likes.

Read More: “They showed…” Roy Keane delighted after Manchester United answered ‘astonishing’ pre-match rant

With Mainoo, Ugarte, and Fernandes understanding each other well, he’s found his perfect dynamic for the remainder of this season.

Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is released every Wednesday at 6 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.