United battles to a draw to end Liverpool's home run

Manchester United and Liverpool play out goalless draw at Anfield; Liverpool face Arsenal next, United to play West Ham.

Mohammed Salah attempts on goal in Liverpool's goalless draw at Anfield against United on Sunday. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Manchester United and Liverpool played out a goalless draw at Anfield, the first time this season that Liverpool will fail to win at home and the first time this season that the Kops will fail to score in a game.

Not many expected the result considering how United shipped seven on the same ground last season and how depleted the visitors were going into the game. Bruno Fernandes missed the game due to suspension, and Johnny Evans had to partner Raphael Varane in the absence of regular options.

Liverpool’s midfield struggled to settle into the game. Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch all started, but a packed United midfield stifled their runs. United sacrificed attack to stay compact, and it earned them a point.

Andre Onana was instrumental to the draw; save after save, he kept United in the game, and he deserves the man of the match award. Despite Liverpool’s dominance, they failed to find the back of the net and will now face Arsenal next weekend with a point deficit.

"I can't remember such a dominant performance against Manchester United—even at 7-0, they were more in the game," Klopp said. "Now that it's 0-0, they probably feel slightly better than us. But we take the point and keep going.

"It was the type of game I expected. If we play like this, it is difficult for the opposite team to get out of their own half, and the way United defended was clean with a lot of passion.

"If you score, it changes the dynamic of the game, and they open up a bit and take more risk. But nothing changed; they threw everything in, and it's a 0-0.

"If you play in the Premier League with a team of quality like Manchester United and they just defend, then it doesn't make life easy. We should have scored, and that would have changed the dynamic of the game. The chances were big enough, so we were unlucky."

Up next for Liverpool is a top-of-the table clash at Anfield against Arsenal. The Gunners usurped the Kops with a clinical win at home against Brighton on Sunday, while Manchester United will be away at West Ham for a lunchtime kickoff game.