Diallo goal seals 2-2 draw for Man United against Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Amad Diallo came back to haunt Liverpool with a late equalizer that secured a 2-2 draw for Manchester United against Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday.

The forward turned home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross in the 80th minute at Anfield after Mohamed Salah’s penalty had looking like giving Liverpool the win.

Diallo struck at the end of extra time as United beat Liverpool 4-3 in a dramatic FA Cup clash last season and hit a 90th-minute winner against Manchester City last month.

His goal on Sunday was only worth a point on this occasion, but it halted United's four-game losing run and prevented fierce rival Liverpool from opening up an eight-point lead at the top of the standings.

United head coach Ruben Amorim, however, was still unhappy.

"It’s a point, a deserved point, but it’s just one point, and we should get mad. Today we should be really disappointed,” he said.

United led through Lisandro Martinez’s strike in the 52nd, but Cody Gakpo leveled seven minutes later.

Salah fired Liverpool ahead from the spot in the 70th after Matthijs de Ligt handled in the box.

The draw saw United move up to 13th in the standings.

Liverpool missed the chance to open up an eight-point lead on second-place Arsenal, which drew 1-1 with Brighton on Saturday. It is still six points clear at the top with a game in hand.

“Over the whole game we created more chances than them; a point feels like it’s something to take, but when I watch the game back I would hope for more,” Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said.

United is without a win at Anfield since 2016 — a run that spans nine games in all competitions. But it was a first point for Ruben Amorim's team since the 2-1 win against Manchester City on Dec. 15.

It could have been better for United, with Harry Maguire firing over from close range deep into added time.

Liverpool had its chances to win as well, with Virgil van Dijk firing a header straight at United goalkeeper Andre Onana late on.

With 39 top-flight titles between them, this was the latest meeting between English soccer’s two greatest teams.

Liverpool has the chance to equal United’s record total of 20 league crowns this season and could have taken a firmer hold on the title race with a win in front of its home fans.

But United produced a performance that confounded its recent form, which has even had Amorim admitting his team could face a relegation fight.

“We’ve been fairly criticized because the position in the table says it all," United captain Bruno Fernandes said. “I think it’s a fair result, both teams played really good football. But we can’t be satisfied. I’m really upset because if we can show this against Liverpool, why can’t we do this every week?”

Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund had chances in the first half before Martinez lashed a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from a narrow angle.

Alexis Mac Allister had seen Liverpool’s best effort in the first half saved by Onana, but the 'keeper could do nothing to stop Gakpo’s powerful shot after cutting onto his right foot in the box.

A VAR review led to referee Michael Oliver awarding Liverpool a penalty after the ball struck De Ligt’s arm and Salah fired low to score his 21st goal of the season. He has scored 13 goals against United — more than any other player in Premier League history.

But it wasn’t enough to earn Liverpool the win after substitute Garnacho cut the ball back for Diallo to convert.

“The way we conceded the two goals was unacceptable, lazy and careless," Van Dijk said. "It shouldn’t happen.”

Raul Jimenez scored a penalty in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Fulham against Ipswich.

It was Jimenez's second penalty of the match as Fulham twice came from a goal down at Craven Cottage.

Relegation-fighting Ipswich went ahead through Sam Szmodics in the 38th and Jimenez leveled from the spot in the 69th.

Ipswich went in front again through Liam Delap's penalty in the 71st and looked like climbing out of the relegation zone.

But when Jimenez was brought down by Leif Davis in the box, referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot again.

Jimenez made no mistake and fired into the top corner to share the points.

Fulham is ninth and six points off the top four, while Ipswich is 18th and below Wolverhampton on goal difference, having played a game more.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, left, scores his side's first goal against Manchester United during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Manchester United during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho gestures during the English Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Liverpool during the English Premier League soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Fulham's Raul Jimenez, left, and Ipswich Town's Nathan Broadhead fight for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage stadium, London, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Ipswich Town's Liam Delap, left, scores his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage stadium, London, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Fulham's Raul Jimenez, left, celebrates after scoring his sides first goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage stadium, London, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

The Athletics have agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with slugger Brent Rooker, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

The deal includes a $22 million vesting option for the 2030 season and escalators that could increase the value to $92 million over six seasons. Rooker was set to swap proposed arbitration salaries with the A's on Thursday. He also would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and could have become a free agent following the 2027 World Series.

The new deal keeps Rooker signed through 2029, when the team is planning to be in Las Vegas. The A's left Oakland after last season and are set to play the next three seasons in a minor league park in West Sacramento, California. The club says its new stadium in Las Vegas is expected to be ready in 2028.

The 30-year-old Rooker has been one of the best players for the A's since joining the team in 2023. He batted .293 with 39 homers, 112 RBIs and a .927 OPS last season, winning a Silver Slugger award at designated hitter and finishing 10th in AL MVP voting. He hit 30 homers with an .817 OPS in his first season with the A's, making the AL All-Star squad.

The agreement with Rooker is the latest big move for the A's this offseason. The team previously signed pitcher Luis Severino to a $67 million, three-year contract — the largest deal in franchise history. The right-hander can opt out and become a free agent again after the 2026 season.

Severino’s arrival was followed by the acquisitions of third baseman Gio Urshela and left-hander Jeffrey Springs.

For the first time since the current collective bargaining agreement began in 2022, the A’s are to receive 100% of the amount due under the revenue sharing formula. If a team’s luxury tax payroll is not at least 150% of what it receives in revenue sharing, the burden of proof in a grievance alleging violation of revenue sharing rules would shift to the club from the players’ association.

The A's have one other player scheduled to swap proposed arbitration salaries with the team on Thursday in outfielder Miguel Andujar.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Aug. 30, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)