Dull top of table clash
LIVERPOOL, UNITED OPEN THE DOOR AGAIN AS SPURS KEEP IN TOUCH
Manchester United held onto top spot in the Premier League after grinding out a dour 0-0 draw at title rivals Liverpool, while Tanguy Ndombele’s stunning strike sealed Tottenham’s 3-1 win at Sheffield United yesterday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had the better chances in a strangely subdued clash between two of English football’s bitterest rivals.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker saved well from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in the second half, but neither side deserved to win.
United are three points clear of third placed Liverpool and two ahead of second placed Leicester.
United are top after the New Year for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 thanks to nine wins in a 12-match unbeaten run.
Leaving Anfield unscathed is a solid result for United as they chase a first title in eight years, but they might feel it was a missed opportunity to pile pressure on injury-hit Liverpool, given their recent struggles.
It is the first time these two old foes have been involved in a title race together since 2009 when United, then at their peak, held off Liverpool’s challenge.
But there was little feel of a seismic encounter as both teams largely played with the handbrake on at an empty and silent Anfield.
Liverpool are well short of the dynamic form that carried them to the title last season and the
Champions League in 2019.
Juergen Klopp’s team have now gone four league games without a win and are without a goal in their last three top-flight matches.
They lacked a cutting edge in the final third and Roberto Firmino shot wide before Mohamed Salah volleyed over.
It took United 34 minutes to have a shot and they almost took the lead from it as Bruno Fernandes whipped his free-kick inches wide.
In an equally scrappy second
half, Fernandes forced a good save from Alisson when his effort from Luke Shaw’s cross was turned away by the Brazilian’s foot.
Thiago Alcantara’s strike was well saved by David De Gea, while Alisson made another fine stop to deny Paul Pogba’s close-range shot.
At Bramall Lane, Tottenham took an early lead through a rare goal from Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier.
Harry Kane’s 19th goal of the season – the England captain’s
fourth in his last six games – increased Tottenham’s advantage before half-time.
David McGoldrick got one back for bottom of the table United in the second half, but Ndombele’s sublime wonder goal, a lob, flicked over his shoulder from an acute angle, wrapped up the points for the north London club. Fourth placed Tottenham are on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions after winning at Bramall Lane for the first time since 1975.