Ibrahimovic rescues Man United; Everton rout Man City

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

Ibrahimovic rescues Man United; Everton rout Man City

Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring against Liverpool. (Reuters)

London - The draw put Liverpool into third spot, alongside second-placed Tottenham on 45 points

By Agencies

Published: Sun 15 Jan 2017, 10:13 PM

Last updated: Mon 16 Jan 2017, 12:49 PM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivered his most important goal yet for Manchester United as he sent Old Trafford wild with his 19th of the season in all competitions to salvage a 1-1 draw with their fiercest rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho tells reporters today's game lacked quality but was "emotional" and "entertaining". #MUFC pic.twitter.com/iRa7v5wCdj
- Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2017

James Milner, so often a scourge of United, had silenced the home crowd with a 27th minute penalty as Liverpool seemed to be coasting with relative comfort to a crucial Premier League win until the irrepressible Swede struck with an 84th minute header.
The draw put Liverpool into third spot, alongside second-placed Tottenham on 45 points, but left Chelsea seven points ahead of the pack after 21 games, while United, who saw the end of their nine-match winning streak, remain sixth with 40 points.
It had looked as if it might be a miserable afternoon for the world's most expensive player, Frenchman Paul Pogba, who gave away the penalty with a clumsy handball, missed a golden opportunity to score and looked lost on defensive duty.

Jürgen Klopp: "It was a very positive performance. We were the better side, we played the better football and had the better plan."#MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/gb9E5543wT
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 15, 2017

Mourinho brought on captain Wayne Rooney as a second half substitute, hoping he would break the club's scoring record but Liverpool, for whom Simon Mignolet made key saves, held United comfortably until Ibrahimovic's decisive late intervention.
Meanwhile, Manchester City's Premier League title hopes were delivered a grievous blow on Sunday as Everton's inspired Romelu Lukaku and teenagers Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman made it another crushing afternoon for Pep Guardiola. City lost 4-0.

'We weren't good enough and must show a big improvement against @SpursOfficial' says Gael Clichy #mcfc

Watch: https://t.co/6yGvNjEUo0 pic.twitter.com/T2At1i7RSm
- Manchester City (@ManCity) January 15, 2017

The Spaniard suffered his biggest-ever defeat in league football after City had enjoyed the lion's share of possession and chances but paid for sloppy defending that led to the Belgian powerhouse Lukaku converting his 12th league goal of the season after 34 minutes.
Kevin Mirallas struck right after the break and excellent 18-year-old academy graduate Davies dinked a brilliant first goal for his boyhood club as City looked increasingly clueless.

Could this season possibly end up with Guardiola and Mourinho battling it out for 5th place?
- Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 15, 2017

Substitute Lookman, making his debut at 19, then completed the rout with his first touch in stoppage time, a goal that stemmed from a mistake from Everton old boy John Stones, as City suffered a fourth league defeat in their last eight league matches.