Despite not having the best of displays, Amad Diallo had a memorable game at Anfield. From his relentless fighting to his comical fumbles, the Ivorian star proved he is a beacon of determination and a desire to excel, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Amad’s first notable moment was a header in the first half after a tricky pass from Diogo Dalot. The 22-year-old forward misjudged the direction of the ball under the influence of a whirlwind, colliding with goalkeeper Alisson and falling in pain. However, the former Atalanta player quickly got up, continued running and continued fighting.
In the 80th minute, the decisive moment of the match came from a smart move by Amad Diallo. He sneaked past Liverpool's defense and scored after a cross from Alejandro Garnacho, equalizing 2-2 for Man United. The shot was a bit clumsy but the significance of the goal was undeniable, an affirmation that the 2002-born star has always been the one to bring optimism and confidence to the "Red Devils" this season.
Ruben Amorim has struggled since taking charge of Man United, particularly in building a solid enough midfield to protect the defence. For this match, he decided to remove the experienced but unspeedy midfield duo of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, replacing them with the youthful and dynamic combination of Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese coach has also encouraged centre-backs like Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt to be more proactive, pushing forward to support the midfield instead of just defending deep. This adjustment has helped Man United control the central area better, creating a more energetic and pressing style of play for opponents.
Alongside Amad Diallo, young talent Kobbie Mainoo also played an excellent match. The English midfielder showed his passion, courage and was not afraid of collisions in competitive situations. Bruno Fernandes, despite having to drop deep to support the midfield, still maintained his creativity with decisive passes, including a beautiful assist for Lisandro Martinez to open the score.
United's performance at Anfield was a marked improvement on their previous disappointing run. Apart from Amad and a strengthened midfield, there were also bright spots in attack. Rasmus Hojlund, despite not scoring, was tireless, putting constant pressure on Liverpool's defence.
However, Man United's defense still has many problems. Despite trying to improve, De Ligt is still a weak point that is exploited. Cody Gakpo took advantage of the Dutch midfielder's confusion to score a beautiful goal, while the foul that led to Liverpool's penalty also came from the 25-year-old rookie's careless handling.
Amad Diallo not only made his mark with the equalizer, but also left a meaningful lesson in perseverance. Throughout the match, despite being fouled, bumped into or having difficulty handling the ball, the Ivorian striker never gave up. He continued to fight and it was that spirit that brought Man United positive results.
In fact, the draw against Liverpool only brought Man United 1 point. However, Amorim has somewhat strengthened the belief of his students and fans in his philosophy. In particular, Amad Diallo's enthusiasm needs to spread and become a representative of the "Red Devils" hopes for the rest of the season.
