Manchester United salvaged a point against Liverpool at Anfield, lifting the mood around manager Erik ten Hag.
United stemmed the rot that had been growing after a crushing home loss to Bournemouth and a timid Champions League elimination at Old Trafford with a disappointing performance.
While this was far from a classic performance from injury-plagued United, who had Diogo Dalot sent out for dissent in stoppage time, Ten Hag had reason to be considerably happier than Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose team blew a chance to reclaim top spot in the Premier League.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana made one excellent first-half save from Virgil van Dijk, while Rasmus Hojlund had the finest chance for the visitors in the second half but saw his shot blocked at the near post by Liverpool’s Alisson.
Liverpool dominated possession but were too often wasteful, forcing them to settle for a point, not enough to overtake Arsenal, who had earlier beaten Brighton to take the lead.
Liverpool falters on the big day at Anfield.
The new upper deck of the Anfield Road Stand was in operation for the first time on this historic day in the history of Liverpool’s iconic old stadium.
The 57,158 crowd was the highest for a Liverpool home game since the FA Cup meeting against Burnley in February 1963, and the third highest in the club’s league history.
This was not a game worthy of the occasion.
Nine months after Liverpool thrashed United 7-0 at Anfield, the Red Devils never looked like facing such carnage again.
After their surge to the top of the table and United’s own troubles, Liverpool went into this match as overwhelming favourites, but the reaction at the final whistle made it plain that this was two points lost for Klopp’s team rather than one gained.
The hosts came out flying, clearly determined to break United’s fragile confidence, but they lost steam as the game devolved into an unremarkable, scrappy affair devoid of real talent.
Liverpool’s 69% possession was mirrored in 34 shots, but too much of their effort was sloppy, laborious, and kept out by a tenacious United defense.
And there was no late comeback to steal victory, which has been a Liverpool characteristic in a season that has brought victories but only intermittently seen Klopp’s team reach the pinnacle.
Even Mohamed Salah couldn’t conjure a moment of magic, and when the big moment arrived late on, substitute Cody Gakpo headed over when unmarked.