Liverpool played to a 0-0 draw against Manchester United in a Premier League encounter at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Jose Mourinho’s side were criticised for a lack of ambition in last season’s stalemate, and any change in approach brought about by their lofty position in the Premier League was negligible on this occasion.
United, who edged one point ahead Manchester City at the summit, ahead of their neighbours’ hosting of Stoke City, had David de Gea to thank for a magnificent first-half save to deny Joel Matip.
Romelu Lukaku was unable to make it eight goals in as many top-flight games for Mourinho’s men when he botched a one-on-one opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
If it was mildly perplexing to see a side in such previously prolific goal-scoring form isolate Lukaku for long periods before the break, the second period descended into a Liverpool attack versus United defence.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were unable to find a way through and have now won just one out of eight in all competitions – Mourinho must hope he does not regret showing so much respect to opponents in such form, come May.
Anfield rose to acclaim club great Kenny Dalglish before kick-off, the ground’s Centenary Stand having been renamed in his honour, but the early exchanges were desperately short on the moments of attacking inspiration that the Scotland international has made his calling card.
Antonio Valencia made an expertly-timed tackle on Philippe Coutinho, following a darting crossfield run from Mohamed Salah – Liverpool’s brightest forward, who was just unable to turn in Roberto Firmino’s deflected 20th-minute cross at the near post.
United enjoyed their best spell of the first half around the half hour, when Nemanja Matic sliced an ambitious left-footed effort just beyond the top corner, but they had goalkeeper De Gea to thank for preserving parity in the 34th minute.
Firmino was the provider once more, and centre back Joel Matip – still up from a half-cleared corner – prodded goalwards from close range, only for De Gea to brilliantly intervene with his boot. From the rebound Salah skewed his shot wastefully wide
Romelu Lukaku was largely forced to feed off scraps upfront for United and drew Anfield ire for clashes with Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren.
In between those flashpoints he should have scored a 43rd minute opener, following fine interplay from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial, but Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet stood firm.
Philippe Coutinho was to the fore as Liverpool began the second half in the ascendancy, and his compatriot Firmino saw a speculative strike deflected into the side netting with De Gea wrong-footed.
The Brazilian duo were punching encouraging gaps into United’s compact defensive set-up as Georginio Wijnaldum lifted an attempt over, before Emre Can failed to convert a magnificent 56th-minute cross from Gomez.
Coutinho went down tamely in search of a penalty as the hour passed and a seemingly vulnerable United doubled down on their limited approach.
A scampering Salah saw a Firmino cross agonisingly evade him at the far post in the 71st minute, and clear-cut chances proved elusive.
Liverpool have 13 points from eight matches and could conclude the weekend in ninth position.
United will be no lower than second after a dispiritingly limited venture that an injury list featuring Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini should not excuse.
-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za
