Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League, but had to settle for a point in a cagey goalless clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A game of few chances was defined by a remarkable spate of first half injuries, with United making all three changes before the break, but Liverpool failed to take advantage with a disjointed attacking display, and now hold a slender one point advantage over Manchester City.
Nemanja Matic’s training ground injury late in the week meant a start for Scott McTominay in midfield, while David De Gea returned in goal, having sat out the FA Cup win over Chelsea on Monday.
Jurgen Klopp made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with Virgil Van Dijk returning and James Milner preferred to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back.
However, both managers’ plans would be disrupted by a bizarre first half in which four players went off injured.
United were worst hit, losing Ander Herrera and Juan Mata in quick succession, forcing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to bring on Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard, while Marcus Rashford, who had been struggling from almost the first minute, had to battle on.
Lingard was himself only just back from injury and his introduction with more than an hour to play always looked a touch risky, but when he limped off before half-time, having just missed the opening period’s best chance after a glorious pass from Romelu Lukaku, Solskjaer looked as miffed as anyone.
In the brief moments where football rather than physiotherapy took centre stage, Liverpool had dominated possession without creating clear-cut openings, and weren’t helped by Roberto Firmino horribly buckling his ankle and hobbling off, replaced by Daniel Sturridge.
The interval offered both sides something of a reset, and perhaps surprisingly, given the changes, it was United who adjusted best.
Ashley Young’s free-kick deliveries looked dangerous, while Rashford first poorly controlled when sent through, and then sliced wide at the back post. Still though, the quality was lacking, with United sloppy in possession and Liverpool lacking a focal point without Firmino.
Xherdan Shaqiri had scored twice off the bench in the reverse fixture, and Klopp sent him on here to try and repeat the trick with 20 minutes remaining, but it was United who thought they’d won it when Joel Matip turned Chris Smalling’s cross into his own net, only to see the flag raised.
