Liverpool 0-0 Man United
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
It’s a huge game for both sides.
For Liverpool, three points would be very welcome as they bid to continue their title push.
United, meanwhile, really could do with a win or at the very least, a creditable performance.
Both the players and manager Erik Ten Hag have come under considerable pressure after a series of disappointing performances.
The teams are in…
How we line-up to take on Manchester United 📋🔴#LIVMUN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 17, 2023
🚨 Presenting your United starting XI for today's trip to Anfield 👇#MUFC || #LIVMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 17, 2023
Who do you think will win today?
Poll Results:
As expected, Liverpool have started this game on the front foot.
They’ve been putting plenty of pressure on United’s defence — the latest promising moment for the Reds saw Salah just slightly overhit a cross while Amrabat has already been guilty of a rash challenge.
United have had a few glimpses of the Liverpool goal in recent minutes, though the Reds remain the dominant side.
Their latest chance sess Dominik Szoboszlai fire a few inches over.
An Alexander-Arnold cross causes chaos, Onana drops it and Salah slots it just wide.
This could be a very difficult afternoon for the visitors.
It’s become very scrappy in recent minutes.
Nunez has just been deservedly booked for barging into Evans off the ball.
Mainoo has just been booked for a reckless tackle on Endo.
A loose ball from Salah had put his teammate in trouble.
Liverpool have just won their eighth corner while United have yet to win one.
Onana has to make a decent save, tipping over Van Dijk’s powerful header from Alexander-Arnold’s delivery.
United have had just one touch in the opposition penalty area compared to 17 for Liverpool.
Still, though, Ten Hag likely would have taken 0-0 after half an hour if offered to him beforehand.
Amrabat had an early let-off but now has been booked for a cynical foul on Diaz.
It means both United’s holding midfielders are on a yellow.
As I type, Konaté heads over from a corner.
With five minutes until half-time, Ten Hag will be happy enough.
As dominant as Liverpool have been, they have created few if any clear-cut chances — Onana has not had to make any spectacular saves yet.
Gravenberch squares it to Salah on the counter.
Space opens up for the Egyptian on the edge of the area, but he doesn’t properly get a hold of the low shot and it’s a straightforward save for Onana.
The sense of frustration around Anfield is palpable as Nunez is caught offside.
United, while seldom threatening, are looking fairly comfortable defensively.
As I type, Endo gets booked for a late challenge on Amrabat.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 MAN UNITED
So half-time and it’s been a pretty uninspiring watch so far.
United have been content to sit back and put players behind the ball while hoping to hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
Liverpool have looked below-par and just not sharp enough in the final third.
The Reds have had 15 shots but only three on target, while United have only had two off target.
You would expect the hosts to pick it up in the second, while the visitors’ best chance might be from a set piece as they’ve offered so little going forward.
The Red Devils have scored just once in their last eight visits to Anfield and that trend may well be about to continue.
The second half has begun…
Salah slips through Alexander-Arnold, who bursts into the area and fires into the side netting.
The second half has started in a similar fashion to much of the first, with Liverpool in the ascendancy.
Salah crosses for the onrushing Nunez, but it’s just too close to Onana and the goalkeeper gathers it comfortably.
Surely United can’t keep playing like this for 90 minutes and get away with it — you suspect the so-far misfiring Liverpool attack will break them down eventually.
Liverpool get a rare counter-attack but Dalot does well to put in a well-timed tackle.
There are more groans from the Anfield faithful as another promising attack comes to nothing.
Moments later, Garnacho finds himself through on goal after a good through pass from Mainoo as United counter, but Alexander-Arnold makes an excellent recovery tackle to halt the attack.
Szoboszlai goes down in the area with Amrabat nearby, but replays show it’s a clear dive.
Meanwhile, Gravenberch hobbles off injured. Gapko comes on in his place.
Joe Gomez is also introduced, with Szoboszlai going off, which means Alexander-Arnold will move into midfield.
Salah tests Onana with a shot from the edge of the area.
That stemmed from good link-up play involving Gomez and Alexander Arnold, with the latter already proving influential in his new role.
Salah lays it to Alexander Arnold, whose first-time effort from just outside goes narrowly wide.
Those Liverpool changes have already had a positive effect on the hosts.
As I type though, out of nothing, McTominay slips through Højlund, but the striker’s finish is straight at Alisson.
Good challenge from Van Dijk to stop McTominay from running through on goal as United threaten again.
Moments later, Onana has to be alert to parry away Salah’s curled effort.
Marcus Rashford comes on in place of Garnacho.
There is certainly plenty of space for the England international to potentially exploit on the counter-attack.
Big chance for Liverpool!
Salah slips through Nunez, he doesn’t control it properly, the ball goes loose and Onana then gets a good block in amid a goalmouth scramble.
More changes for Liverpool.
Jones and Elliot come on, Diaz and Nunez go off.
Liverpool had been looking a little light in midfield in recent minutes, so Klopp is clearly trying to address that issue.
Another change for United — Mainoo is replaced by Pellistri.
The departing youngster can be pleased with his afternoon’s work, not looking out of place by any means despite having only made a handful of appearances at this level.
Tsimikas’ cross bounces off the arm of Shaw amid claims for a penalty but the protests are dismissed.
Moments later, Gomez gets a half-chance but fires into the side netting from a tight angle.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time…
Gapko meets Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick but can’t direct his header on target.
Liverpool have had so many set pieces today and have been consistently wasteful with these opportunities.
Dalot has just been sent off.
It’s a second booking for dissent after protesting a throw-in decision.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 MAN UNITED
So that’s that.
A frustrating afternoon for Liverpool — it’s the first time this season they haven’t won at Anfield in the Premier League.
By contrast, given their turbulent season thus far, United will be happy enough with that result.
It was a backs-to-the-wall display by Erik Ten Hag’s men, very reminiscent of the Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eras.
The Red Devils at times have been accused this season of a poor attitude and work ethic, but those claims could not be made today.
The visitors’ well-organised defence kept their rivals at bay, while it could have been better, as United missed a handful of chances of a counter-attack.
Overall though, you come away with the sense that both sides have work to do — Liverpool ultimately ran out of ideas and need to be better going forward, while it was also a reminder that United are still miles off being capable of going toe to toe with the best sides.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
