Alan Shearer: Manchester United Pushed Liverpool but Must Sustain Momentum
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New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) The 2-2 draw between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday was a remarkable encounter, with the league leaders seemingly unable to cope with the Red Devils' unyielding assaults.
Premier League’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer shared his insights on Liverpool's performance, stating that there is no cause for alarm as the Merseyside outfit maintains a six-point lead, along with a game in hand, over second-placed Arsenal, who played to a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
“I don't think many anticipated Manchester United would secure a positive outcome at Anfield, let alone showcase the impressive display they did on Sunday. I certainly did not foresee it. Conversely, Liverpool had a subpar performance, failing to reach the high standards we have come to expect from them this season,” Shearer remarked to the BBC.
“Clearly, there's no need for them to panic. Once the dust has settled on these dropped points and a disappointing performance, Liverpool remains in an excellent position at the top of the table.
“What gives the chasing teams a flicker of hope are the goals Liverpool conceded on Sunday. They appeared flustered when they fell behind in the second half, a rare sight in recent times, while United's attacking threat persisted in troubling them,” he added.
The match indeed reflected a disparity in performance levels, as United, having secured just two league wins in nine matches under head coach Ruben Amorim, currently ranks 13th in the table yet seemed to outperform the league leaders.
Shearer was firm in his belief that United’s exceptional showing has now set a high benchmark for their upcoming fixtures, particularly with the FA Cup clash against Arsenal at the Emirates approaching.
“Now they must follow it up. While we know Liverpool are the real deal and a lackluster day for them does not alter that, the onus is on United to demonstrate that this was not merely a one-time occurrence.
“There is no tougher venue in the Premier League this season than Anfield, so this performance has illustrated their capabilities, but every upcoming match will be measured against it.
“It has established the standards they need to uphold in the coming weeks or months, whether it is against Arsenal in the FA Cup next weekend or at home against the bottom-placed Southampton a few days later; the level they attained here must become their norm,” he concluded.
