Talking Points: Liverpool 0 United 0

With very little to separate the two sides for much of the game, United pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but Jurgen Klopp’s side were resolute enough to keep us out.

Here are the essential talking points from a match of fine margins against our rivals…

UNITED STAY TOP

The result against the reigning champions means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team remain top of the Premier League. After Leicester City’s win against Southampton, the gap at the summit is two points, with Liverpool still three behind in third. Manchester City, though, closed on the summit with a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace and still have a game in hand.

CHANCES TO WIN IT

Paul Pogba, who got the winner at Burnley in midweek, and Bruno Fernandes had chances to get a winner, but both were thwarted by Liverpool keeper Alisson. First, the Brazilian kept out Bruno, who had steered Luke Shaw’s cut-back on goal, before he was also equal to Paul’s shot from inside the box, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka's ball rebounded to the Frenchman. They were key moments and vital interventions by the home no.1.

AWAY RUN CONTINUES

We remain unbeaten on the road in the league this season, having won seven and drawn two our nine matches on our travels. Meanwhile, overall, the Reds are now unbeaten in 16 away matches in the Premier League - winning 12 and drawing four - a run that will stretch more than a calendar year as our last loss came at Anfield, in January 2020.

HAT-TRICK OF SHUT-OUTS

We have now kept a clean sheet in each of our last three matches in all competitions, the strong defensive showing by the whole back-four at Anfield added to the shut-outs we achieved at Watford in the FA Cup and Burnley in the Premier League.

FIRST-HALF FRUSTRATION

The hosts started strongly and restricted United in the opening period, keeping us from having a chance until the 34th minute – when Fernandes whipped a free-kick just inches wide. That’s the longest we’ve gone without a shot at the start of any game in the Premier League since our last trip to Anfield but was understandable in the circumstances.

RASHFORD RECOGNISED

Off the field, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp used his programme notes to pay a special tribute to the work of Marcus Rashford in tackling child food-poverty. Referring to the striker as “a giant in this nation”, he added: “Football gave him his platform and he has used it to fight an injustice that was being too easily ignored.”

WHAT'S NEXT?

Our relentless schedule in this condensed season shows no sign of abating as we have yet another midweek fixture in what will be our third successive match away from home. Wednesday night sees us travel to the capital to face Fulham, before we renew our rivalry with Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round next Sunday.