A tense, shouty and ultimately intriguing but largely uneventful meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United ended in a 0-0 stalemate at Anfield on Sunday to keep the Red Devils on top of the Premier League after 18 matches while Liverpool fell to third.
In the end, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side came closest to securing all three points if not for Alisson’s big second half saves on Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.
Despite Xherdan Shaqiri’s attack-minded inclusion in the starting 11, it was another Liverpool performance that was a far cry from the buccaneering displays of the last few seasons.
The heralded front three of Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah hasn’t been anywhere near its best over the last few weeks, as evidenced by the fact that Liverpool has now gone three league matches without a goal (their longest period of futility since 2005).
Even more worrying is the club’s shots on target over the last four fixtures: two (West Brom), four (Newcastle), one (Southampton) and three today. But United felt the frustration as well, particularly Fernandes after being withdrawn in the 89th minute.
¡Hey tranquilo @B_Fernandes8!
El jugador que ha cautivado a la #LigaPremierTD y a los fans del @ManUtd se fue molesto del campo al salir de cambio pic.twitter.com/MHfLkx6JDW— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 17, 2021
Still, at least we all got to watch Thiago play football.
Thiago made more interceptions (7) and completed more take-ons (5) than any other Liverpool player vs. Man Utd.
No player made more tackles (3) or created more chances (2) than the Spaniard. pic.twitter.com/ubYq2seSrj— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 17, 2021
The Red Devils are now unbeaten in 16 consecutive away matches (12 wins and four draws). The club’s record is 17 straight, which United could equal on Wednesday when traveling to Craven Cottage to play 18th-place Fulham.
Liverpool hosts Burnley on Thursday, and then we do Manchester United vs. Liverpool all over again on Sunday, Jan. 24, but this time in the FA Cup fourth round.
