One of the world's biggest matches: Liverpool v Manchester United was played out today in week 8 of the Premier League season. The two giants of English football came together at Anfield for the early kick-off with both sets of players appearing to have left their creativity behind at international camps.
Manchester United were the guiltiest as they seemed intent on cancelling the game out. Jose Mourinho will be the happiest of both bosses as his side kept it tight at the back but only managed one attempt on target in the whole game.
A tough encounter at Anfield today
The game started brightly for the home side as they dominated possession and created the best chances. On the quarter hour, Roberto Firminio put Joe Gomez through, and the England U21 man put a fine cross in before the United defence frantically scrambled back. The ball landed nicely at Coutinho's feet but he was thwarted by Valencia's interception.
It was a sign of things to come. Liverpool, who have not beaten their fierce rivals in the Premier League since March 2014, kept the pressure on the United defence, but the home side were lacking ideas of that killer ball.
De Gea denys Joel Matip with an excellent save
United didn't offer anything in the creativity stakes either. In fact, the best play of a dull first half came when De Gea denied Joel Matip from close range with an outstretched leg. The ball rebounded out to Coutinho, only for teammate Mohamed Salah to take it off his foot and fire his effort wide.
Liverpool players protest at Lukaku's foul play
The closest United came to scoring in the first half was a Lukaku effort, which was easily saved by Mignolet. It was an afternoon of frustration for the Belgian forward, whose most notable exposition on England's biggest stage was to somehow not be sent off.
First he avoided a booking after going in hard and chopping Gomez down. And then just before the break, he appeared to kick Dejan Lovren in the face as the Liverpool man was on the ground. The FA might look in to the alledged kick, and can take action as it wasn't noted by the referee.
Klopp shakes hands with De Gea who was United's man of the match
The second half was much the same. Liverpool dominated the possession but were fruitless in the creative stakes. Gomez, who was involved in most of the action, picked out Emre Can, only for the German to fire over the bar.
It seemed like Mourinho, who isn't known for his attacking flair, came to Anfield to play for a draw in the hope of snatching a winner, but with no attempts on goal in the second half, even he would have admitted a breakaway winner would have been undeserved.
The onous was on Liverpool, however, and Klopp brought on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge to add some spice but even the two England men failed to ignite the game, as United's dogged defence thwarted any chances Liverpool managed to create.
The scoreline was a repeat of last season's 0-0 bore draw. This game might have been an improvement in the entertaining stakes compared to last season, but for England's two biggest clubs playing out another fruitless draw, it is not a good advertisement for the Premier League.
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