OFF THE HOOK
OLE RUES MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AS UNITED ARE UNABLE TO PUNISH UNDER-STRENGTH LIVERPOOL
OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer regrets Manchester United missed an opportunity to put clear daylight between themselves and injury-hit Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after drawing 0-0 at Anfield yesterday.
With no fit centre-backs, the champions again fielded midfield duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the heart of their defence but they were hardly exposed, although goalkeeper Alisson made good saves to deny Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.
The top-of-the-table clash failed to live up to its billing and Solskjaer admits the leaders left disappointed they were not able to open up a six-point gap over their arch-rivals.
‘They are a good side and they have some injury problems but we didn’t pounce on that,’ he said. ‘We grew into the game and got stronger and stronger and were closer to winning. We were a bit disappointed in the performance, not just the result.
The United boss added: ‘We didn’t do well enough to cause them problems in the first half but we defended well and they didn’t create too many chances.
‘We know we have players who can win you a game in the blink of a second and Bruno and Paul almost did.
‘I think Paul was absolutely brilliant. He should have got the goal his performance deserved. But I think everyone was a bit disappointed with the way we started the game but that is a good feeling to have, that we were disappointed in the performance.’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp felt his team played well enough to win against an in-form United side. ‘A lot of good stuff, obviously, but what we miss is a goal,’ admitted the German. ‘If we win this game 1-0, then I think it’s completely fine because of the possession that we had, the football we had, a lot of things.
‘You cannot deny Man United [chances] for 90 minutes, we never could, and it’s probably not possible for anybody, especially when they’re in a good moment.
‘But today, with all the things that were said before the game – “they are flying and we are struggling” – I think the boys played a really good game tonight, my boys, against a good side.’