Manchester United once again saw a lead slip away as they faced off against Liverpool, ultimately conceding a late penalty that resulted in a draw.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, typically renowned for his adept tackling, found himself on the wrong side of a pivotal moment in the match against Liverpool. With Manchester United holding a narrow 2-1 lead and Liverpool pressing for an equalizer, Wan-Bissaka opted to go in for a tackle on Harvey Elliott.
However, his attempt proved futile as he failed to dispossess Elliott and made only minimal contact. Despite this, VAR reviewed the incident and upheld referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to award a penalty, leaving the game deadlocked at 2-2.
While initially appearing as a clear penalty, closer scrutiny in slow motion reveals the slight nature of Wan-Bissaka’s contact with Elliott. Nonetheless, former referee Dermot Gallagher, speaking via Sky Sports News, supported the decision, asserting that there was sufficient contact to warrant the penalty and dismissing accusations of diving against the Liverpool player.
Manchester United’s recent defensive woes extend beyond this single match, as they have now conceded three penalties in their last two outings. In their previous encounter against Chelsea, they also fell victim to two penalties, both of which were deemed contentious due to the minimal nature of the contact.
The recurring theme in these penalty incidents is the susceptibility of United’s players to putting themselves in compromising positions within the penalty box, providing opposition attackers with opportunities to draw fouls. These situations not only exert pressure on the defenders but also highlight the importance of mental composure, as demonstrated by Wan-Bissaka’s lapse in judgment.
While goalkeeper Andre Onana was unable to rescue Wan-Bissaka from the consequences of his error, there remains hope for improvement in future matches. A respite of a week before their next fixture against Bournemouth offers an opportunity for physical and mental recuperation for the United squad, following a demanding schedule post-international break.