Liverpool’s 100 per cent home record this season is gone (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool missed the chance to move back to the top of the Premier League after they were held to a goalless draw against Manchester United at Anfield.
Arsenal returned to the summit with victory over Brighton earlier on Sunday afternoon but Jurgen Klopp’s side toiled on a frustrating afternoon at Anfield.
After a their 7-0 nightmare on Merseyside last season and home defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich in the last week, United turned in a more resilient display that will help ease a bit of the pressure mounting on Erik ten Hag.
The visitors had Diogo Dalot sent-off in the final minutes of the contest but held on to end their rivals’ 100 per cent home record this season.
In front of their largest home crowd in over 50 years, Liverpool managed 15 efforts on goal during the first-half but rarely troubled Andre Onana who kept out Virgil van Dijk’s header just before the half hour mark.
United’s persistent efforts to play out from the back invited pressure from the hosts but Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans, playing alongside each other for the first time, largely defended well in the first period with Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai sloppy in the final third.
United acquitted themselves relatively well in the first period. But after shipping six in the second-half of that harrowing afternoon in March, there was still plenty to do.
Perhaps on the receiving end of some stern words from Jurgen Klopp at the break, the hosts emerged looking to deliver a similar second half blitz with Trent Alexander-Arnold drilling one into the side netting to wake up the crowd.
United held firm, however. Kobbie Mainoo, booked early in the first-half, provided moments of real class in midfield with his superb though ball almost freeing Alejandro Garnacho racing in from the left. Alexander-Arnold was back to do just enough to nick the ball away and end the danger.
Changes on the hour mark prompted a shift in system that saw the Liverpool right-back moved into midfield, drilling a decent effort just wide of Onana’s post moments later.
Still waiting for his first Premier League goal, Rasmus Hojlund was presented with the perfect stage to open his account, brilliantly fed through by Scott McTominay inside the box. The Dane could only find a tame effort on goal, firing straight at Alisson who was out quickly to deny him.
That chance provided the uplift in tempo the game desperately needed with chances now flowing at both end with Marcus Rashford, not deemed fit enough to start, summoned from the bench.
Liverpool players screamed for a penalty on the 85th minute after the ball rebounded off the grass onto Shaw’s arm with Michael Oliver waving away appeals after a VAR check.
Oliver was involved again in injury time, showing Dalot two yellow cards in 10 seconds for dissent after protesting a throw-in going against him.
Unable to find a winner, a draw leaves Liverpool a point behind Arsenal in second with the two sides to meet next Saturday.
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