Liverpool: Archrivals Liverpool and Manchester United failed to spark as England’s two most successful clubs played out a forgettable 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Monday.
Victory would have lifted Jurgen Klopp’s in-form Liverpool level with leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, but they remain fourth after seeing a five-game winning streak come to an end at Anfield.
Liverpool came closest to winning, United goalkeeper David de Gea thwarting Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurned the visitors’ best chance with a weak header. “They didn’t create chances, maybe two in the second half, and de Gea made two or three great saves, but in the end our performance was not what it should be,” said Liverpool manager Klopp.
“We weren’t calm enough. That is not the way we want to play, but I accept it. We got a point. There are worse things in the world.” Klopp could console himself with a first clean sheet in 10 league games, but it was the first time his side had failed to score at home in the league since a 1-0 loss to United exactly 10 months previously.
Jose Mourinho’s United remain seventh and have won only one of their last five league games. It was the first night game in front of Anfield’s rebuilt Main Stand and Mourinho unveiled a new formula for the occasion, fielding Paul Pogba in an advanced role behind Ibrahimovic.
The visitors had four attempts on goal before Liverpool mustered one, home goalkeeper Loris Karius gathering deflected shots by Ibrahimovic and Marouane Fellaini and pushing away a Marcus Rashford cross.
Rashford and fellow winger Ashley Young dropped deep in United’s defensive phase and Liverpool were reduced to one sight of goal in the first half, de Gea catching Roberto Firmino’s back-post header.
The Man U goalie again got down smartly to thwart Can, who had sidestepped Chris Smalling, and produced a flying full-stretch save to touch Coutinho’s 25-yard curler wide.
