Dominant Liverpool unable to break Man Utd in scoreless draw
STALEMATE: Cody Gakpo of Liverpool heads the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Man United at Anfield. Pic: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
ERIK ten Hag avoided the Anfield thrashing many feared as Manchester United became the first side to avoid defeat at Anfield this season.
Liverpool’s record of 11 wins from 11 games in league and cups looked like it would continue, given United’s problems and desperate run of form.
But United capitalised on some uncharacteristically poor attacking play from Jurgen Klopp’s side and, while offering no threat themselves, survived the 34 shots produced by their hosts to gain a creditable draw.
This being a clash between the two bitter rivals there was late controversy, with United defender Diogo Dalot sent off in the 93rd minute; the full-back shown two yellow cards in the same incident after his protracted dissent at referee Michael Oliver over an incorrectly-awarded throw-in.
The game started as many had expected and looked like it could possibly end in a repeat of the 7-0 humiliation ten Hag suffered in March, based on the opening exchanges.
Liverpool won three corners in the opening five minutes - they would end the half leading 9-0 in that category - but United held firm.
That was despite ten Hag insisting on his defence playing out from the back, especially from goal kicks where keeper Andre Onana lived dangerously but survived without giving the ball away.
It was a rearguard action from the off, for a United team depleted by injury and suspensions and playing their eighth different central defensive pairing of the season in Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane.
After 15 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s far-post cross should have been headed in by Luis Diaz, although Onana fumbled his weak header and Mo Salah almost scrambled in the loose ball.
It took until the 28th for Onana to make a real save, tipping over a Virgil van Dijk header although the effort, from Alexander-Arnold’s corner, was straight at him.
Ryan Gravenberch’s long-range strike was deflected behind, Ibrahima Konate headed over and Salah hit a tame effort at the keeper from 18 yards.
It was all curiously subdued although United, with one touch in the Liverpool area in the first half, were hardly a threat.
But the largest Anfield crowd in over 60 years - thanks to the opening of an extension to the Anfield Road stand for the first time - was hardly its usual febrile self as United held on gamely.
It was not until the 55th minute, when Alejandro Garnacho bore down on goal from Kobbie Mainoo’s pass only to be stopped by Alexander-Arnold’s challenge, that United looked remotely interested in scoring.
There was a lack of quality in both teams’ attacking play although Alexander-Arnold at least generated something in the way of atmosphere with a spectacular 25-yard shot that flew inches wide of the United goal, with Onana rooted.
Incredibly, the first save of the second half had to be made by Alisson, after Rasmus Hojlund exchanged passes with Scott McTominay and headed for goal with the Liverpool keeper blocking his shot at close range.
The rare sight of a United chance briefly breathed life into the game, with Salah cutting in and sending Onana flying through the air to catch his strike.
Salah then played in a dangerous ball, with Darwin Nunez and Diaz making a mess of an attempted shot between them, before defender Konate showed better attacking intent with a neat turn in the area and shot straight at Onana.
There was a late appeal for a penalty for handball against Luke Shaw, that VAR correctly ruled out, and Joe Gomez flashed a shot into the side-netting as Liverpool missed the chance to return to the top of the table.
Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 8, Konate 6, van Dijk 6, Tsimikas 6; Szoboszlai 6 (Gomez 61, 6), Endo 5, Gravenberch 6 (Gakpo 61, 6); Salah 6, Nunez 5 (Elliott 78, 5), Diaz 5 (Jones 78, 5).
Substitutes (not used) Adrian, McConnell, Kelleher, Quansah, Bradley.
Onana 6; Dalot 7, Varane 7, Evans 7, Shaw 6; Mainoo 7 (Mejbri 82), Amrabat 4; Antony 5 (Pellistri 82), McTominay 6, Garnacho 4 (Rashford 71, 6); Hojlund 5.
Subsitutes (not used) Bayindir, Reguilon, Wan-Bissaka, van de Beek, Gore, Kambwala.
M Oliver 6
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