United demonstrate exactly how to park the bus in dull Anfield draw
In the end nothing was proven and no questions were answered.
United still haven’t beaten anyone in the top half of the Premier League and Liverpool are still to make an impact on the title race.
Romelu Lukaku passed up the chance to show he can win the big matches as well as the run-of-the-mill ones, while Jurgen Klopp still has a very good record against top six teams.
Liverpool did at least show they are capable of keeping a clean sheet, but that was no real feat against a team who never really looked interested in scoring.
Jose Mourinho invented the phrase “park the bus” and this was straight from the advance drivers’ handbook.
His tactics helped ensure the first match played in front of the Kenny Dalglish Stand, renamed in honour of the Liverpool and Scotland legend, finished goalless.
There was one decent chance for each team and two very good stops from the keepers, but on both occasions the ball should have been in the net.
Simon Mignolet saved well from Lukaku when he was clean through on goal in the 43rd minute.
Nine minutes earlier David De Gea had made a save with his foot from Joel Matip.
The only other noteworthy effort came from Emre Can in the 56th minute, and he really should have done better when he volleyed over from Joe Gomez’s centre.
Still, on the weekend he celebrates two years at the club, Klopp may have not won any trophies, but he’s lost only twice in 21 games against the established top six clubs.
United stay unbeaten, which was clearly Mourinho’s bottom line, but there remains a suspicion that while they can pulverise average teams, they might not have quite enough against their main rivals.
Mourinho’s plan was clear from the off – pack their own half, let Liverpool have the ball, take the sting out of the game and wait.
So Liverpool were left to attack and needed no second invitation.
Roberto Firmino got round the back, but Chris Smalling’s challenge meant that Georginio Wijnaldum could only stab the ball at De Gea. Wijnaldum then curled in a 20-yard shot which barely troubled De Gea. Firmino hit one from 30 yards and troubled him even less.
Liverpool did come close in the 21st minute when Firmino picked up on a Phil Jones error, but his cross was deflected just beyond the foot of Mo Salah by Matteo Darmian.
United’s first real attempt came on the half-hour from Nemanja Matic – a drive just over the angle from 25 yards.
Liverpool’s big opportunity came four minutes later – a double chance to take the lead and they fluffed both elements.
Firmino bamboozled Jones and crossed low. Matip, five yards out, struck De Gea’s foot with his shot and as Jones nudged a clearance to Salah the Egyptian fired wide.
Salah found De Gea’s arms a couple of minutes later, but at least Liverpool were beginning to make United look a little more uncomfortable.
Two minutes from the break Lukaku had his big chance after a one-two with Anthony Martial, but Mignolet made a terrific save.
This had been no powderkeg of a contest between two fierce rivals, however there was a minor kerfuffle just before the break when Lukaku tangled with Dejan Lovren.
The defender rolled around holding his head. Referee Martin Atkinson was adamant that any contact was accidental, though Klopp felt it was worth a red card.
Jones carelessly gave the ball away at the start of the second half, but rescued himself and his team with a good challenge to stop Firmino turning in Coutinho’s cross.
Wijnaldum lifted one over the bar after Coutinho’s blocked effort fell awkwardly at his feet.
Mourinho then threw on the pace of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford to give his defenders more options for the out ball and to tempt Klopp to open up a bit.
However, Liverpool continued to run into United’s grey wall and when they did get a sniff they never looked like making anything of it.
An increasingly desperate Salah missed the target twice, De Gea had to scramble to claim a loose ball that was running away from him and Salah couldn’t quite grow enough to get a head to a Coutinho cross.
Klopp brought on Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Salah and Coutinho 12 minutes from time, but nothing changed.
Can did show great intent with a run and shot six minutes from time, but De Gea was again in the right place to make the save as the game ended all square.