Premier League action between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield on Monday. Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: The much hyped Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool ended in a 0-0 stalemate at Anfield on Monday. Disciplined defending from both sides failed to break the deadlock in 90 minutes.
Liverpool missed an opportunity to join League leaders Manchester City and Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp’s team was in tremendous form of late coming back after five wins on a trot. The draw meant Liverpool remains fourth in points table.
Liverpool came closest to winning as Man. United goalkeeper David de Gea thwarted Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho. Zlatan Ibrahimovic spilled the best chance for the visitors' 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, although this was a display much more in keeping with the defensive rigorousness their manager demands.
"I think was a positive performance," Mourinho said.
"The reaction from their crowd was permanent disappointment. People expected us to come here and be really in trouble, which we were not."
Mourinho deployed a new strategy by fielding Paul Pogba in an advanced role behind Ibrahimovic.
It was United who started on a lively pace taking advantage of Liverpool’s sluggishness on the field.
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.
United got the best opportunity to take the lead in the second half as Pogba created a glorious chance for Ibrahimovic with a deep cross from the right but the Swede totally misjudged his header and the ball bounced harmlessly square.
At the other end, De Gea got down smartly to thwart Can, who had neatly sidestepped Chris Smalling, and also produced a flying full-stretch save to touch Coutinho's 25-yard curler wide.
Both coaches made a few tactical substitutions in the second half. Sturridge made way for Lallana while Mourinho brought in Rooney in place of Rashford.
But that did not inflict any changes to the score sheet as the match ended in a dull draw.
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