Liverpool’s quest to reclaim the Premier League’s top spot was thwarted after a goalless draw with Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, marking the end of their perfect home record this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s team, displaced from the lead by Arsenal earlier in the day, failed to regain their position at the summit, missing the sharpness in front of goal that usually characterizes their play. Manchester United, despite a week of disappointing results, managed to cling on for a draw, continuing their trend of minimal scoring at Liverpool with just one goal in their last eight league visits.
The match’s notable moments included a narrowly missed shot by Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and a prime opportunity for United’s Danish forward Rasmus Højlund. The game’s intensity escalated when United’s Diogo Dalot received two yellow cards for dissent, reducing them to ten men in stoppage time.
Liverpool, now in second place with 38 points from 17 games, trails leaders Arsenal by a single point. Meanwhile, United sits in seventh place with 28 points.
Anfield witnessed a historic attendance of 57,000, its largest in 50 years, thanks to the partial opening of the revamped Anfield Road Stand. Expectations of a repeat of last season’s 7-0 demolition of United were high, but the anticipated fiery derby never fully ignited.
Klopp, reflecting on the game, noted that despite dominating more than in last season’s 7-0 victory and registering 34 goal attempts to United’s six, the finishing touch was missing. “We tried everything and the numbers we created — in terms of shots — is crazy,” Klopp said. “But with that amount of shots they should be a few more on target. That was our fault today and we go from here.”
The first half was relatively subdued, with Liverpool starting strong but unable to maintain pressure on United. Notable moments included a header by Van Dijk leading to a save by United’s André Onana and a deflected volley from Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch.
A tactical adjustment from Klopp, bringing Joe Gomez on and moving Alexander-Arnold upfield, nearly paid off. United’s only significant attempt came from Højlund, playing a one-two with McTominay, but his shot was stopped by Liverpool’s keeper Alisson.
In the game’s closing stages, Onana made a dramatic save from a Mohammed Salah shot. United narrowly escaped a penalty call when a ball struck Luke Shaw’s arm in the area, but the appeal was not upheld, leaving both teams to share the points.