It was indeed the most awaited classes of the Premier League season which turned into a major letdown as Liverpool and Manchester United nullified each other in a goalless draw at Anfield on Monday.
After all the hyper for this battle between English football’s fiercest rivals, United’s manager Jose Mourinho was happy than his counterpart Juergen Klopp as the visitors kept Liverpool’s acclaimed attacking in check. The home side struggled and it was only in the second half they saw some chances of scoring a goal when United goalkeeper David de Gea had to make some fine saves from Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho. With this draw United stands seventh in the table on 14 points while Liverpool stay fourth on 17 points two behind leaders Manchester City and Arsenal.
Klopp’s whirlwind Liverpool was subdued in the first half as Mourinho brought Marouane Fellaini to partner Ander Herrera in a stifling central midfield combination. It was United’s men who were behind the ball and taking the voice out of the passionate home crowd. United controlled most of the play in opening half hour and even a 40 metre Xlatan Ibrahimovic free kick could not do any good for Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said:
“I am not frustrated but I am not happy with the performance. No-one will show this game in 10 or 20 years but we could have played better.
“It was a hectic game, interrupted here and there, but we lost patience with our passing game. The attitude of my team was really good. We were ready to fight but when you can play better, you have to.
“The kind of defence is difficult to play. The man-marking is really difficult, they are stronger than us. We wasted energy in the first half for nothing. The second half was better and with fresher legs in second half we could have created more.”
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said:
“It is not the result we wanted but it is a positive result. It is a result that stops a direct opponent getting three points at home, so not a bad result.
“The game was difficult for both teams but for longer periods it was more difficult for them than us.
“We controlled the game not just tactically but the emotion of the game. That was probably the quietest Anfield I had and I was expecting it to be the other way.
“It was a positive performance.”
