Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
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Some pre-match reading for you…
- ‘He was not booed by Man United fans’ – Mourinho promises Rooney ‘respect he deserves’
- ‘A masterpiece of a match’: when Anfield hosted an exhausting, exhilarating classic
- ‘Mourinho is not ruthless enough’
- More complicated than hate – Neville opens up on United-Liverpool rivalry
- Ibrahimovic ‘like a big brother’ for Pogba as he settles back into Old Trafford life
- FA to investigate Mourinho’s referee comments ahead of Liverpool showdown
- No regrets for Mane about snubbing Old Trafford as he insists: ‘We are going to beat United’
- Are Liverpool and United serious title contenders plus more Premier League talking points
Wayne Rooney is only on the bench for Man United tonight.
More details here.
Some interesting stats from this fixture’s recent history courtesy of Sky Sports…
We’re underway…
Rashford commits a robust challenge on Milner.
He’s lucky to escape a booking, and only does because it’s so early in the game.
Decent start from United. They’ve controlled the early stages and kept the Liverpool attack quiet.
As I type, Ibrahimovic blasts a free-kick well over.
It’s been quite scrappy so far, which will probably please Mourinho more so than Klopp.
As I type, United have a free kick in a good position, but Fellaini is adjudged to be offside as it’s delivered into the box.
Pogba gets his first sight at goal, but blasts the ball well over.
The Frenchman probably would have been better passing to Rashford, who would have been one-on-one with the defender if he did.
Ibrahimovic shoots from distance, but it’s deflected safely into Karius’ arms.
United have been the better side so far, even if they have yet to create a clear-cut chance.
Herrera plays it out to Rashford, but the teenager fails to control the ball and it goes out for a throw-in.
That produces one of the biggest cheers of the night so far, which tells you a lot about Liverpool’s performance.
Emre Can blasts a shot well over, as Liverpool labour in attack.
This game has been far from a classic so far.
Decent play from Rashford, who finds space out right and fires a cross in that Karius is forced to parry away to safety.
Makeshift left-back James Milner is bound to be seriously tested by the youngster tonight.
The crowd are not happy, as Ibrahimovic commits a cynical challenge on Mane.
Sky’s Gary Neville says Liverpool are “more predictable” with the changes in personnel that they’ve made.
As I type, Firmino heads a Jordan Henderson free kick straight at De Gea.
The hosts have improved in recent minutes.
A nervy moment for Karius, as he flaps at an Ashley Young cross.
Luckily for the goalkeeper, Ibrahimovic is penalised for a push as the ball is delivered into the box.
Liverpool have got a grip on this game in recent minutes.
The hosts have United pegged back into their half now, and look the more threatening of the two teams.
Furthermore, in the last 10 minutes, Jurgen Klopp’s side have had an incredible 82% possession.
A cynical foul by Bailly on Sturridge results in the game’s first yellow card.
Jose Mourinho shakes his head in disapproval on the sidelines.
There have probably been more bookable offences in the match, but the referee indicates that the repetitiveness of United’s fouling has finally caused his patience to wear thin.
Henderson escapes a booking for a late challenge on Herrera.
Ashley Young then gets booked for complaining about Henderson not receiving a yellow.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 MAN UNITED
Half-time and it’s been a pretty poor spectacle.
Jose Mourinho will probably be the happier of the two managers.
United have restricted a previously free-scoring Liverpool attack to pot shots, while rarely threatening themselves.
Liverpool increasingly dominated in terms of possession and territory as the half wore on, but failed to muster a single clear-cut chance.
If things don’t improve quickly, it would be no surprise to see Adam Lallana come off the bench, with Daniel Sturridge and others ineffectual in attack.
On Sky, Ryan Giggs calls it the “perfect half” from a United perspective.
United have played “almost a 6-3-1,” according to Sky’s Jamie Carragher.
The second half is underway…
The second half has begun in a similar pattern to the first, with United sitting deep and inviting Liverpool on when the hosts have the ball.
However, you’d imagine that there’ll be more opportunities as the half develops, with both sets of players bound to tire.
Another nervy moment for the conspicuously uncomfortable Karius.
The young goalkeeper’s stray pass appears to give Pogba a golden opportunity, but the offside flag saves Liverpool.
Best chance of the match so far!
Pogba beats Henderson and delivers an excellent cross to Ibrahimovic, but the Swede can’t direct his header on target from what is an awkward angle.
Herrera is adjudged to have fouled Coutinho.
The United player expresses frustration, and the replay shows why, as it was a clear dive from the Brazilian.
Best moment of the game so far for Liverpool.
Can finds space in the United box, and forces a good save from De Gea with a snap shot.
Meanwhile, Sturridge, who has had a quiet game, is replaced by Lallana, as Liverpool revert to a more familiar-looking three-man attack.
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Liverpool have been better since Lallana’s introduction, with Coutinho increasingly influential.
They’ve still yet to really open up United, but there’s a greater intensity to their attacks now, and the visitors’ defenders are looking uncomfortable for the first time in this match.
Out of nothing, Coutinho produces a powerful strike from distance that forces De Gea to palm the ball away for a corner.
There’s only been one team who’ve looked like winning the game in this second half.
Blind slips allowing Liverpool to counter attack, but Bailly is in the right place to make a timely interception.
The young centre-half has been excellent tonight.
Wayne Rooney comes on for Marcus Rashford.
The 18-year-old starlet has had few opportunities in attack, but Mourinho will likely be pleased with the defensive discipline he’s shown.
A rare United attack, as Valencia escapes down the right, only for Can to head his cross ball out of play.
United’s first corner of the game is headed wide by Ibrahimovic.
Great tackle by Valencia to deny Coutinho.
The Brazilian was through on goal there, and looked set to pull the trigger, only for the full-back to make a perfectly timed challenge.
Something pretty dramatic needs to happen in the next few minutes to prevent this being remembered as probably the least entertaining Liverpool-United game ever.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
Ander Herrera gets man of the match, with Gary Neville pointing to his “defensive work”.
Ashley Young slowly strolls off to be replaced by Luke Shaw…
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 MAN UNITED
Well that’s that.
It’s the second 0-0 draw between these sides in their last 49 matches, and it was horrible to watch quite frankly.
Mourinho will be happy enough, as United were clearly playing for a draw.
Liverpool will be frustrated but a couple of half chances aside, they struggled to break their opponents down and consequently can’t really complain about the outcome.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have further reaction up on the site shortly.
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