Man Utd 0-0 Liverpool: Reds drop two points at Old Trafford

Liverpool played out a goalless draw away at Manchester United in the Premier League.  

The result amended the Premier League table; United dropped out of the Champions League spots whilst the reds returned to the top of the Premier League, but despite this it will be Liverpool fans who likely will be most disappointed with the point.

The reds controlled the majority of the game but lacked the quality in the final third of the pitch to secure all three points.  Roberto Firmino was forced off with injury mid-way through the first half, replaced by Daniel Sturridge who had little impact.

Mo Salah too was way off his usual standard - ballooning a free kick from a decent position way over the crossbar in one of his few opportunities.

Liverpool ended with Shaqiri and Origi also sent on to try and provide attacking impetus but a decent defensive display by United kept the reds at bay.

Alisson saved at the feet of Jesse Lingard in one of the first half highlights whilst Chris Smalling was perhaps the wrong man to get on the end of a United cross in the second.  Lingard had come on for Juan Mata but was then replaced himself 17 minutes later through injury - with Alexis Sanchez coming on as the subs sub.

Jurgen Klopp had possibly paid Solskjaer's side too much respect by replacing Keita and Alexander-Arnold with more defensively minded players in the side.  Virgil van Dijk was welcomed back into the team which meant that Fabinho could return to midfield.  But Henderson was kept in at the expense of Keita and with Wijnaldum slightly off the pace, there was a problem linking midfield with attack.

Liverpool had almost forced an early chance from kick off - Man Utd forced into a passback that was met with an indirect free kick in the area - but Liverpool overcooked the set-piece and it set the tone for what was to follow.

Overhit passes and crosses, too many touches just outside the area, and some average corners and free kicks from the reds summed up a lot of our performance.

When Sturridge came on to replace Firmino he seemed to play too deep and did not have the understanding with Mane and Salah that the normal trio are capable of expressing.

Liverpool go back to the top of the league with a slender one point advantage and welcome Watford to Anfield on Wednesday evening.

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