Neither facet may discover the breakthrough as goal-shy Liverpool and Premier League-leaders Manchester United performed out a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Liverpool ahead Roberto Firmino lashed the perfect likelihood of the early phases vast when Andy Robertson was in a greater place within the field.
On the different finish, Bruno Fernandes curled a free kick simply the unsuitable facet of Alisson’s put up throughout a primary 45 minutes missing clear-cut probabilities.
Each Liverpool and United have been equally toothless for a lot of the second half, and it took till after the hour mark for Alisson to should make a save.
However the Brazilian needed to be alert to disclaim Bruno Fernandes the winner within the seventy fifth minute, making a superb save along with his ft to maintain the Portuguese’s close-range effort out.
Thiago then examined David de Gea with a robust effort from exterior the realm, earlier than Alisson made one other glorious save to disclaim Pogba within the closing phases.
The outcome means United keep their standing as league leaders, two factors forward of Leicester and three forward of Liverpool – who’ve scored only one purpose of their final 4 league outings.
Listed below are seven speaking factors from Anfield.
1. Anfield stalemate wanting high quality
It might be the most important fixture in English soccer, however the on-pitch motion between Liverpool and Manchester United has struggled to stay as much as expectations in current seasons.
That is not solely attributable to a scarcity of targets, both, but in addition the overall sloppiness which seeps right into a sport of this magnitude.
The north-west derby has a behavior of forcing among the best gamers within the Premier League into uncharacteristic errors.
Thiago and Gini Wijnaldum have been among the many Liverpool gamers to misplace easy comparatively passes, whereas the Reds as soon as once more struggled to string collectively assaults.
In the meantime, Bruno Fernandes had a quiet night and squandered his facet’s greatest likelihood regardless of his prolific type this season, and United’s counter-attacks lacked the incisiveness to harm their hosts.
Maybe the FA Cup conflict between these two sides subsequent weekend will serve up extra high quality.
2. Thiago’s dwelling debut
Some 4 months after becoming a member of Liverpool from Bayern Munich, Thiago Alcantara stepped out on the Anfield turf for his dwelling debut.
On the launch of the line-ups, there was hypothesis Jurgen Klopp could have deployed Thiago within the double-pivot alongside Gini Wijnaldum in a 4-2-3-1.
However the Reds began the match of their normal 4-3-3 formation with Thiago working because the deep-lying playmaker, flanked by Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Spaniard confirmed an early glimpse of his prodigious high quality on the ball by nimbly skipping away from Bruno Fernandes to burst into the ultimate third.
He did the identical moments later, ghosting previous Fred – solely to overhit his Mohamed Salah-bound move. There was one other overhit through-ball – this time for Trent Alexander-Arnold – which summed up a blended first half for Thiago.
However the 30-year-old discovered his vary within the second half and compelled David de Gea into a wonderful save along with his rifled effort. He didn’t snub his defensive duties, both, and made seven interceptions to snuff out United’s counter-attacking risk.
Thiago will discover extra sharpness with extra minutes, and it was a promising dwelling debut which is able to depart Liverpool followers hoping to see the midfielder begin once more towards Burnley on Thursday.
3. Pogba deployed in new function
Paul Pogba could need to depart Manchester United on the finish of the season, however Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is decided to get his cash’s value out of the Frenchman within the meantime.
Solskjaer has deployed Pogba in central midfield, holding midfield and on the left flank already this season – and determined handy him a begin on the best towards Liverpool.
It was an intriguing choice which maybe aimed to use the house typically left by Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson on Liverpool’s left.
It additionally allowed Solskjaer to discipline Fred and Scott McTominay – his first-choice midfield pairing for giant video games – within the double pivot.
Pogba was the license to float inside whereas Anthony Martial stretched the Reds’ defence by hugging the other touchline.
However watching United you could not assist however really feel substitute Mason Greenwood may have been the simpler decide on the best, because the teenager would have relished the possibility to run at a depleted Liverpool defence.
4. Shaqiri shines however Reds assault falters once more
Xherdan Shaqiri was rewarded with a uncommon begin for the go to of Manchester United after he got here off the bench to choose up two assists within the victory over Aston Villa children within the FA Cup.
Eager to handle a scarcity of creativity which has restricted the Reds to 1 purpose in three Premier League outings, Jurgen Klopp fielded the Swiss winger in an attacking midfield function.
Shaqiri shortly made an impression on the match, displaying off his trickery on the sting of the field to get a shot off within the opening phases. He’s an knowledgeable at creating house and taking pictures minimal backlift – and his depth is one thing Liverpool’s attackers have lacked in current performances.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are arguably within the midst of their most difficult interval as a ahead trident, whereas the Reds have scored one purpose of their final 4 Premier League video games.
Salah and Mane have been wanting probabilities as soon as once more, whereas Firmino’s choice making was awry – as proven when he fired vast with Andy Robertson free within the field.
With Diogo Jota nonetheless injured and the entrance three merely not firing, Klopp should discover options quick. He could select to deviate from his tried-and-tested formulation by naming Shaqiri in assault as Liverpool face one other cussed opposition in Burnley on Thursday.
5. Lindelof recalled as Shaw impresses
Eric Bailly could have felt aggrieved to lose his spot within the XI after serving to Manchester United maintain two clear sheets and concede only one purpose of their final three Premier League video games.
However Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recalled Victor Lindelof to accomplice Harry Maguire for the journey to Liverpool – and was rewarded for his choice.
The Sweden worldwide impressed along with his composure and place play, serving to blunt Liverpool’s attacking risk along with his interceptions and studying of the sport.
Solskjaer has settled on Lindelof and Maguire as his first-choice pairing, whereas Luke Shaw is benefiting from an prolonged run because the membership’s go-to left-back.
Spurred on by the competitors of Alex Telles, Shaw continued his superb type with an industrious show at Anfield which helped maintain Mohamed Salah quiet, whereas his work going ahead additionally caught the attention.
6. Henderson fills in alongside Fabinho
There was additionally a range dilemma on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s defence, with Jurgen Klopp finally deciding to proceed with Jordan Henderson at centre-back.
The captain partnered Fabinho, which means the Reds had two pure midfielders taking part in on the again as stand-in choices Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips watched on from the bench.
Henderson was as much as the duty and his positional work meant he was not often uncovered – however the Reds will probably be comfortable when the 30-year-old returns to midfield with Joel Matip’s imminent return to health.
7. Alisson lives as much as reward
Gary Neville hailed Alisson as Liverpool’s “most vital participant” forward of the match – and the Brazilian was available to make the sport’s most vital save towards Manchester United.
Alisson was not known as into motion till the second half, when Bruno Fernandes’ shot from vary got here straight at him.
However he remained alert and made a unbelievable response save to disclaim Fernandes’ close-range effort with quarter-hour remaining.
Alisson additionally denied Paul Pogba within the closing phases to stop United snatching a winner which might have prolonged their lead on the high of the Premier League to 5 factors.
They have been two massive saves which reaffirmed Alisson’s enormous significance to Jurgen Klopp’s facet.
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