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Liverpool vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
- Updated: October 17, 2016
Manchester United stripped a point from Liverpool after coming away from Anfield with a 0-0 draw on Monday evening, a result that likely left Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho content with his side’s performance.
Both Premier League giants failed to get their attacking gems into a stale fixture.
The point saw manager Jurgen Klopp’s side remain in fourth, while United stayed put in seventh.
Adam Lallana made his return for Liverpool off the bench, while Marcus Rashford started on the wing for United in place of captain Wayne Rooney. Juan Mata also dropped out for Ashley Young.
Empire of the Kop showed evidence of possession running against United before suggesting Mourinho had displayed some familiar-looking tactics en route to a stalemate against Klopp’s men:
FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man United Man United possession tonight (34%) is the lowest they have ever had in a Premier League game… pic.twitter.com/59Yi7rPJFx
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) October 17, 2016
The two teams had a fast start in their first clash of the 2016-17 campaign, and Liverpool’s high press caused a lot of the trouble in their attempt to restrict United’s passing tempo.
Emre Can slotted in alongside Jordan Henderson in the absence of Lallana, and ESPN’s James Tyler highlighted the momentum the hosts developed early on:
Liverpool really whizzing the ball around early on. Marouane Fellaini’s going to have to work hard to get his awful fouls in.
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) October 17, 2016
However, the power balance swiftly shifted in favour of the guests despite the Merseysiders taking an advantage in possession, with Antonio Valencia and makeshift winger Marcus Rashford seeing a lot of the ball down the right flank.
Yahoo’s Liam Canning described it as a “comfortable” outing for the Red Devils, who had Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini distributing the ball in midfield behind Paul Pogba:
Haven’t seen Man Utd look this comfortable all season. Most definitely up for the occasion. Playing well. Can’t say the same for Liverpool.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) October 17, 2016
Even with momentum running in their favour, however, United struggled to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic into the match, with Young being one of the main protagonists finding space behind enemy lines.
Philippe Coutinho was another frustrated star who was unable to make his usual impact for the home side, who went in scoreless at the break.
ESPN’s Musa Okwonga though Mourinho was the happier of the two managers:
So Mourinho has so far made this precisely the game that he wanted. That’s a small victory, of sorts.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) October 17, 2016
The opening chance of the second half fell to Ibrahimovic, but the Swede arrived a fraction of a second too …
