Liverpool v Manchester United (2020-21)

Liverpool v Manchester United (2020-21)

Liverpool Manchester United 0 0
HT:0–0 Report
Event	Premier League 2020-21
Date	Sunday 17 January 2021
Venue	Anfield, Liverpool
Player of the Match	Alisson
Referee	Paul Tierney
Attendance	0
Weather	4 °C (39 °F)
← Liverpool - S'hampton Man Utd - Burnley Liverpool - Burnley Man Utd - Fulham →

Liverpool v Manchester United was a match which took place at the Anfield on Sunday 17 January 2021.

Manchester United "missed an opportunity" to beat Liverpool, said boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after his side stayed top of the Premier League with a goalless draw against the champions.

It was a game that failed to justify the pre-match anticipation and Solskjaer will know his side had the better chances to claim a statement victory at Anfield.

Liverpool, without a recognised centre-back and with midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in defence, dominated possession in the first half but it was United who came closest when Bruno Fernandes' 20-yard free-kick curled inches wide.

Fernandes was then thwarted after the break by the outstretched leg of Liverpool keeper Alisson before Thiago Alcantara's long-range effort finally brought the previously unemployed David de Gea into action.

Alisson was Liverpool's hero late on when he blocked Paul Pogba's drive from point-blank range.

"It was an opportunity missed with the chances we had but then again we were playing a very good side." Solskjaer told BBC Sport. "I'm disappointed but, still, a point is OK if you win the next one.

"We have improved and progressed. It's not just the result we're disappointed with, it's some of the performance. I know these boys can play better."

United are now two points ahead of Manchester City, who moved up to second by beating Crystal Palace 4-0, and Leicester City in third. Liverpool, who have scored just one goal in their past four league games, have dropped to fourth, a point behind the Foxes.

"The performance was good enough to win it but to win a game you have to score goals and we didn't do that, so that's why we had that result," said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

"We try not to not score. We obviously have to ignore the fact and hope it will be good again."

Klopp cut a frustrated figure pretty much from the first whistle, his voice booming around Anfield with a tone of displeasure, showing unhappiness with his own players and officials.

The German's team, so used to steamrollering all before them in recent times, are going through a very dry spell and barely created an opening worthy of the name here against a resolute Manchester United defence.

Too often, Liverpool's approach play ended with a careless pass or an aimless cross and the longer this game went on the more United looked the most likely winners.

It was perhaps inevitable Liverpool would be unable to maintain their relentless style, but there will be concerns they have now gone four league games without a win since Crystal Palace were demolished 7-0 at Selhurst Park.

Before this draw, West Bromwich Albion left Anfield with a point, while Liverpool also had a goalless draw at Newcastle United and lost at Southampton.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are feeding off scraps, while Roberto Firmino's impact was so minimal that he was withdrawn near the end, even with the hosts chasing a goal.

A team as good as Liverpool will not remain off the boil for too long, but there is no doubt they are struggling for form and spark. The fact this is their longest barren sequence in the league since February and March 2005 tells the tale.

Manchester United may have a taken a point before this game and there will be justified satisfaction that they subdued Liverpool so completely, created the game's best chances and remain top of the table.

And yet there must also be disappointment that they could not cash in completely on an off-colour Liverpool, with reality dawning on them very late that they could take all three points.

Fernandes, despite being poor in general, almost unlocked Liverpool twice, while Solskjaer and his backroom team threw their hands up in frustration as other good positions were wasted late on.

In the final reckoning, however, there will be few complaints at this outcome, which leaves them three points ahead of Liverpool with the visit to Anfield negotiated without mishap.

United were well organised and grew into the game after a poor opening half-hour and had real defensive heroes in captain Harry Maguire and left-back Luke Shaw, with the latter particularly outstanding.

It is a display that will give them increased confidence and belief as they lead the pack - although they might just look back and think a point could so easily have been three.

Match

Details

17 January 2021 16:30 GMT	Liverpool	0–0	Manchester United	Anfield, Liverpool Attendance: 0 Referee: Paul Tierney
		HT:0–0 Report

Liverpool

Manchester United

01 Alisson 66 Trent Alexander-Arnold 03 Fabinho 14 Jordan Henderson 26 Andrew Robertson 23 Xherdan Shaqiri 76' 06 Thiago Alcântara 05 Georginio Wijnaldum 89' 11 Mohamed Salah 09 Roberto Firmino 85' 10 Sadio Mané Substitutes: 07 James Milner 89' 15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 17 Curtis Jones 76' 18 Takumi Minamino 27 Divock Origi 85' 46 Rhys Williams 47 Nathaniel Phillips 62 Caoimhín Kelleher 76 Neco Williams Manager: Jürgen Klopp

01 David de Gea 29 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 02 Victor Lindelöf 05 Harry Maguire 23 Luke Shaw 39 Scott McTominay 17 Fred 06 Paul Pogba 18 Bruno Fernandes 89' 09 Anthony Martial 61' 10 Marcus Rashford Substitutes: 03 Eric Bailly 07 Edinson Cavani 61' 08 Juan Mata 11 Mason Greenwood 89' 26 Dean Henderson 27 Alex Telles 31 Nemanja Matić 34 Donny van de Beek 38 Axel Tuanzebe Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Man of the Match: Alisson Assistant referees: Lee Betts Constantine Hatzidakis Fourth official: Craig Pawson

Match rules 90 minutes, no extra time or penalties. Three points awarded to winner, none to loser. One point awarded to each in the event of a draw. Nine named substitutes Maximum of three substitutions

Match Stats

• Match Stats

Overall	Liverpool	Manchester United
Goals scored	0	0
Total shots	17	8
Shots on target	3	4
Ball possession	66%	34%
Corner kicks	7	3
Fouls committed	15	6

See also

• 2020-21 Premier League: Match day 19

External links

• Match report at BBC.co.uk
• Match report at Premier League.com

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