Manchester United have collected a point on the road as Erik ten Hag’s men leave Anfield with a clean sheet and vindication after a solid performance over 90 minutes that could very well have resulted in three points.
Liverpool dominated the opening five minutes but United grew into the affair and broke up play nicely – although that did not translate into chances in the final third for the entirety of the first half.
Coming into the game as heavy favourites, Liverpool failed to show why they should be involved in any title conversation as one third of United’s first team made comfortable work of their predictable patterns.
That continued for the rest of the game and even though it opened up in the final 25 minutes, Liverpool never looked like scoring by way of their chanced lobs through Trent Alexander-Arnold.
United came close to winning it toward the end but at the end of the day, Ten Hag will be delighted with the performance.
Man United Player Ratings
Andre Onana – 8
Tidy job with the ball at his feet, guiding his side out of some sequences where Liverpool had advanced deep into United’s defensive third with their press. Made comfortable work out of all of the shots on target.
Diogo Dalot – 9
Like the rest of the backline, the Portuguese full-back was as close to flawless as you can get. Absolutely absurd decision by Michael Oliver to send him off.
Jonny Evans – 9
The Northern Ireland legend has been good whenever he has played and tonight, he leaves Anfield as the best centre-back on the pitch.
Raphael Varane – 9
Superb performance after some time out of the team. Exactly what United needed.
Luke Shaw – 9
There were murmurings that Shaw was set to play centre-back but thankfully, he played in his best position and was at the top of his game.
Sofyan Amrabat – 9
Really growing into his own at United for what he has been brought in to do. Midfield destroyer who never stops running or fighting.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8
He struggled in the first 20 minutes as the game looked to be moving too quickly for him but he settled in after that and was not fazed at all. You couldn’t tell he’s the youngest Manchester United player to ever start against Liverpool.
Antony – 7
In and out of the game. Needlessly gave away possession on some occasions and did well to recycle on others.
Scott McTominay – 6
For the position he played, a bit too much of a passenger as he was supposed to be the link between midfield and attack. Better when he dropped deeper.
Alejandro Garnacho – 7
An inch away from getting the shot away that could have been the winner. Had Alexander-Arnold’s number.
Rasmus Hojlund – 6
A handful of touches in the first half. Could probably have commanded himself on the Liverpool centre-backs a bit more and pushed into them.
Amrabat was a 4 at best.Rafa was peerless as was Shaw
Arambat was great from a defensive positioning and closing down sense, but couldn’t make a transition to save his life…even the simplest pass out was too much for him. However, considering he’s probably never played a game at that pace, in that atmosphere, ever…
Well done boys
I feel for Hojlund! He had one chance, two with the rebound, and got the first shot on target. Now consider the last few matches with Bruno, Antony and others shooting into the sky, then that is already a positive result. He could have struck it better, sooner and higher, and he could have been ready for the rebound, the easier chance in reality, but…
Any striker, every striker misses chances, but if they get three chances in a game, they score once on a good day.
The way we play Hojlund gets zero chances most games, perhaps he should demand the ball more, make his own chances more, but he’s a one touch kind of striker, almost old school, and gets no supply, even the daft pundits are beginning to pick up on it. lol
He never expected to play 90 minutes every game. The player ten Hag expected to play regularly up front got yat another goal and assist for little Getafe in a 3-0 win at Sevilla this weekend. Glazers sacrificed him because of their fear of the prawn sandwich munchers, who regularly boo our team at home.
Amrabat was poor, nowhere near a 9. Antony battled well. McTominay contributed little. Varane excellent. Evans and Shaw very good. Mainoo good.
Dalot finally gets a chance to rest
United only got a draw because Liverpool were wasteful. I’d give the whole United back four a 7 and the rest of them 6. Sour grapes from Van Dyke moaning that only one team was trying to win.
The deployment of three holding midfielders consisting of Mctominy, Amrabat and Minoo gave that defense a lot of protection which made them to look too good. But with the return of Fernandez in the subsequent match against Westham, one of those midfielders will have to be dropped and there the team will concede miserably.
Yup – I think it’s a big decision. Does Bruno walk back in? The last time we beat Crystal Palace in the League Cup and won comfortably without Bruno, next game he comes back in and we lose. His attitude stinks and it rubs off on the young players, and he’s captain!!! Until that changes we won’t win s**t!
Good result at the weekend though. Mainoo has to play every Prem game. Keep Varane, Evans and Shaw fit and can one of these highly paid a******s can start scoring, or maybe even 2 or 3 of them! Red n White Arrrrrrrrmy!!
United were awful . Liverpool were awful too
Crap – Scotty was brilliant last night – was aware of everything that was going on – never ran out of position and made 4 crackin passes that we probably should’ve scored from – marshalled the troops brilliantly- at least an 8