Manchester United got what they came for as Liverpool found it difficult to get past a watertight defence at Anfield. The fixture failed to live up to the hype surrounding it, given the two contrasting styles of play in action on Monday night.

For all the fluid, high-pressing football Liverpool played during the run-up to this fixture, it was replaced by trepidation in the early minutes of the game. During this phase, it was United who saw more of the ball but did little that was notable.

Both teams lacked intensity, a stark contrast to the thrilling Manchester derby last month. It was not until the last 10 minutes of the half that Reds got into their groove with Roberto Firminho and Sadio Mane showing greater presence up front. There weren't any clear-cut chances of note, though.

Liverpool found their rhythm going on the other side of interval. Philippe Coutinho was more of a creative influence than he was in the first half, and James Milner, playing at left-back, showed great industry to link up play in midfield.

United could have got into the lead when Paul Pogba, whose presence was yet again minimal from midfield, delivered a searching cross to the back post, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's header was poorly directed.

In the last 20 minutes of the game, the home side continued to push for the winner and United had to fall back on their brilliant keeper David de Gea to save them. Emre Can took a shot from a congested area just inside the box, which the Spanish keeper pushed away diving to his right.

The save that well and truly had the De Gea rubber stamp on it was when Coutinho tried to curl one to the top corner. The ball looked destined to find the net, but the United No. 1, airborne, dived full length to his left to punch it away.

It seemed like Jose Mourinho had settled for a point as the final exchanges turned into an attack versus defence battle. The Red Devils, on their part, were solid at the back. Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly were at their no-nonsense best. The man who stood out in the United backline was Antonio Valencia, executing a perfect sliding tackle in the box with Firminho through on goal late in the game.

Brief scores

Liverpool 0 draw with Manchester United 0