In a hard-fought 0-0 draw on Sunday, ailing Manchester United finally showed some resilience, and Liverpool wasted an opportunity to take back the top spot in the Premier League.
In stoppage time, United had Diogo Dalot sent off for dissent, but Liverpool had long ago run out of options against the visitors’ courageous performance at Anfield.
After Arsenal and Aston Villa’s victories earlier on Sunday, Liverpool began the weekend in third place, having started the weekend in first place.
Although they outclassed their bitter rivals in a dull match, Jurgen Klopp’s team lacked the decisiveness needed to stretch their league winning streak to four games.
Prior to their crucial encounter with the Gunners at Anfield on Saturday, Liverpool is now in second place, one point behind leaders Arsenal.
The outcome was encouraging for United following yet another disappointing week, while Liverpool were left disappointed having lost at home for the first time in 12 games in all competitions.
With Bruno Fernandes suspended and plagued by injuries, United displayed a persistence that had been lacking for much of the difficult campaign.
Following Bournemouth’s humiliation at home the previous weekend, United suffered a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, which sealed their meek Champions League group stage exit.
For the first time since being crushed 7-0 at Anfield in March—among the most ignominious losses in the team’s history—Erik ten Hag’s team was back at Anfield.
Even though they haven’t triumphed at Anfield since 2016, Ten Hag, who has been under fire for the past seven years, is thankful for little victories as United avoids further humiliation.
Liverpool was compelled to “utterly condemn” the fans who attacked United’s team bus with missiles prior to the game, resulting in a glass bottle smashing a window, in keeping with the toxic nature of English football’s most intense rivalry.
After that unsightly moment came a rough game that lacked any redeeming features.
Defiant United
In recent times, Liverpool has had the better of United; nevertheless, their advancement was halted by a mix of careless passing and stolid defense.
Darwin Nunez, who had not scored in his previous nine appearances, reached in vain to the far post to convert Mohamed Salah’s floated cross.
After Andre Onana failed to hold Nunez’s header, Salah, who has loved torturing United in the past, came dangerously close to scoring another goal at their expense.
In the first half hour, Liverpool’s territorial superiority resulted in eight corners, and Virgil van Dijk nearly scored the first when Onana pushed his header over.
Ibrahima Konate wasted a header from another Liverpool corner, but United was well-organized enough to stave off Klopp’s team despite the Reds’ constant pressure.
Onana calmly saved Salah’s effort from an excellent position inside the box to cap off a difficult first half for Liverpool.
After the break, the pattern remained the same as Liverpool maintained possession and United steadfastly refused to give up.
Before Onana stopped Salah’s curler, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low drive brushed the sidenetting.
Alexander-Arnold was shifted into midfield by Klopp, and the right-back nearly scored with an early attempt that sailed just inches wide from the edge of the box.
Rasmus Hojlund of United was nameless for extended stretches of time, but when he did have a look at goal, the Dane blasted it straight at Alisson Becker following a wonderful ball from Scott McTominay that gave him a chance to break the tie.
Salah moved forward menacingly, but Onana made a fantastic stop to deny him, then Dalot blocked Luis Diaz’s attempt.
After making a useful contribution, Dalot unnecessarily received another yellow card after berating referee Michael Oliver during a throw-in dispute.