The beginning of the year brought with it snow and cold weather across the United Kingdom. Thus, football fans had 'very little choice' but to get cosy at home, and watch Sunday's enticing Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield. It has been a fixture that has captivated audiences all over the world. However, given Manchester United's form, this almost seemed like a foregone conclusion. A confident Liverpool side were looking down upon their Premier League rivals from the top of the table with 45 points from 18 league matches. In contrast, Manchester United had collected only 22 points in their 19 matches, and were in desperate need of some impetus as they were lying in 14th position.
TalkSport presenter Andy Goldstein thought about the worst case scenario before the game got underway, with these comments: "This weekend, and I'm not joking here. But Man United are playing Liverpool, I think the best team on the planet at the moment ... I don't want to sound all doom and gloom ... Man United could lose 8-0 on the weekend. I doubt it, and it might just be 3-0 or 4-0 ... If Manchester United lose 8-0, or let's say 6-0, where do you go from there?" The negative sentiment couldn't just be found among Manchester United fans. The Athletic published an article that read, "Manchester United are now a sporting irrelevance for Liverpool". Highlighting the 23-point-gap between the sides before kick-off.
However, beware the wounded animal, and this game did not disappoint.
A thrilling encounter that left everyone scratching their heads a little, given the pedestrian performances from United this season at times. This time the Red Devils would show up and Liverpool's points gap would not be extended. A pulsating 2-2 draw added more questions than answers to United fans, as their side managed to do what has only previously happened on four occasions in Liverpool's season - take points off them.
While the on-the-field action was all we hoped for, the numbers surrounding this historic clash were incredible too.
Here are five statistics that will shock you.
Shocking Stat Number 5:
Manchester United equal the longest run in their history in which they haven't beaten Liverpool
Manchester United's longest run in which they couldn't defeat Liverpool came between 1970 and 1979, when they went nine league matches without a win against the Reds. That run was equalled after the conclusion of this encounter. United have drawn five and lost four of their last nine matches against Liverpool - A record they wouldn't have wanted to equal.
Shocking Stat Number 4:
Mohamed Salah has scored and assisted more goals than any other player against Manchester United
Mohamed Salah has scored 13 Premier League goals and assisted 6 against Manchester United. More goals than any Premier League player has scored against United, and the most assists that any other Premier League player has against Manchester United.
Shocking Stat Number 3:
Mohamed Salah has scored as many Premier League goals as Thierry Henry
Mohamed Salah has scored 18 Premier League goals this season, and assisted 13. An incredible feat, but the penalty that he scored in this encounter means that he draws level with Arsenal's legendary striker Thierry Henry on 175 Premier League goals. He is only two goals away from Frank Lampard, who scored 177 goals in his career - the sixth most in Premier League history.
Shocking Stat Number 2:
Manchester United have scored more goals in this encounter at Anfield than they have in their last 8 matches there
The last eight matches between the sides at Anfield have either been incredible victories for Liverpool (7-0, 4-0, 2-0 and 3-1) or 0-0 draws - four of their last eight encounters have ended in 0-0. This time Manchester United managed to score two goals, more goals than in the entirety of their last eight matches against Liverpool away. In fact, the last time Manchester United scored two goals at Anfield was in March 2015.
Shocking Stat Number 1:
Manchester United Attempts On Target
Manchester United had 13 attempts at target in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday, this is the most they have accumulated at Anfield since 2011 - 14 years ago.
There you have it. Which stat is the most shocking for you?
And.
How do you think this result will affect the rest of Man United and Liverpool's seasons?
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