As acts of vindication go, Jordan Pickford’s game-saving block to deny Mohamed Salah as the prolific Liverpool forward looked poised to open the scoring in the first half of a tense Merseyside derby was up there with the best of the Premier League this season.

Here are our player ratings from the Merseyside derby stalemate.

Our man inside the game says that Wayne Rooney has long been finished as a top player

Everton defender Seamus Coleman has a thigh injury but it is not related to the horror leg break he has just returned from, manager Sam Allardyce has said.

The star man, ratings and moment of the match.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has paved the way for departures next month, stating “every player has a price”.

Wayne Rooney's first Merseyside derby goal earned Everton a draw at Anfield as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's selection gamble backfired.

WATFORD 'HUGE' FOR ME, UNSWORTH ADMITS AFTER EVERTON CRASH OUT OF EUROPA LEAGUE

Everton boss Ronald Koeman was forced to endure more disappointment as Lyon consigned his side to an ill-tempered defeat and more Europa League misery.

Wayne Rooney’s 200th career league goal was cancelled out by Raheem Sterling as Pep Guardiola and his 10-man City received a timely reminder of how tough this season will be.

Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal but Raheem Sterling came off the bench to snatch a 1-1 draw for Manchester City against Everton.

The Premier League is waiting on further information from both Southampton and Liverpool over an alleged illegal approach for Saints defender Virgil van Dijk before deciding whether an investigation would be appropriate, Press Association Sport understands.

Liverpool have abandoned their hopes of signing Virgil van Dijk and apologised to Southampton for “any misunderstanding” over their interest.

The clock may be ticking at Everton for Ross Barkley but the midfielder's timely intervention ensured a winning end to their season at Goodison Park with a 1-0 victory over Watford.

Everton 0 Chelsea 3: This is how champions do it. Chelsea’s trip to Goodison Park was considered the most difficult of their remaining fixtures, yet they tackled it with a professionalism to make Tottenham hearts sink.

Manchester United v Swansea: Jose Mourinho offered a tongue-in-cheek solution to Manchester United’s personnel problems: picking himself against Swansea.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Chelsea at the head of the Premier League table may be fuelled more by hope than expectation, but with Harry Kane in his current vein of form, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are entitled to retain belief the current leaders can be caught.

Ronald Koeman has opened the door for Wayne Rooney to return to Everton, saying the Manchester United star would be “welcome” at Goodison Park.

Jose Mourinho has no intention of allowing “equally important” goalkeepers David de Gea and Sergio Romero to leave Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola suffered his heaviest league defeat as a manager as Everton dealt Manchester City a serious title blow with a 4-0 win at Goodison Park.

Mauricio Pochettino has labelled Dele Alli a “killer” and urged the Tottenham man to maintain a naughty side to his game.

Romelu Lukaku’s agent Mino Raiola claims a new contract is “99.9%” done but offered no guarantees the striker would stay at Everton long-term.

Jose Mourinho says Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s “phenomenal” impact has made the veteran Manchester United striker undroppable.

A lot has changed in the two years since Manchester United appointed Louis Van Gaal, but one thing has not: The man himself.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is aiming to win the FA Cup with “beautiful” football but will settle for anything that brings the trophy back to Old Trafford.

West Ham 3 Manchester United 2: A night that began with the Manchester United players sheltering on the floor of the team bus as the vehicle was attacked by bottles and other missiles on its way to the Boleyn Ground ended with Louis Van Gaal’s side crestfallen at having lost control of the race to finish fourth.

Manchester United's bid for Champions League football remains alive after a 1-0 win at Carrow Road which saw Norwich slip closer to Premier League relegation.

Liverpool claimed a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and it was made all the sweeter by earning it at the home of bitter rivals Manchester United.

Manchester United 1 Watford 0: Louis van Gaal perhaps had a point earlier this week when he warned Marcus Rashford the hard work is only just beginning.

Marcus Rashford is restoring pride at Old Trafford with his remarkable start to his Manchester United career, according to the 18-year-old’s experienced team-mate Juan Mata.

Morgan Schneiderlin insists David de Gea remains “fully committed” to Manchester United. De Gea’s future at United has been thrown into doubt following news Real Madrid will soon be hit with a transfer embargo.

Man United 0 Chelsea 0: More direct and purposeful they may have been as they ended a disappointing 2015 at Old Trafford, but a goalless draw for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United against Chelsea still indicates there are vast swathes of work required from the Dutchman and his players in the new year.

Louis van Gaal has backed Anthony Martial to end his goal drought and help Manchester United avoid an embarrassingly early Champions League exit.

Louis van Gaal has hit back at his critics again, reminding them that Old Trafford “was not always the Theatre of Dreams.” United topped the table at the end of September, but their form has dipped of late.