Liverpool have dropped points for the first time at home this season as they were held to a goalless draw against Manchester United in Monday night's Premier League clash at Anfield.
One of the most highly anticipated clashes of the football calendar began brightly, with both sides playing the game at a high tempo and getting early tackles in.
Chances were at a premium in the first half, however, with Paul Pogba firing from around 30 yards out on the quarter-hour mark and blazing over.
In the 29th minute, Roberto Firmino headed straight at David de Gea after connecting with Jordan Henderson's cross at the back post.
That was about as exciting as it would get in the first half, with little of note except a booking apiece for Eric Bailly and Ashley Young.
The restart brought about a number of chances as Loris Karius skewed a clearance into the path of Pogba, whose attempt to play Zlatan Ibrahimovic in was stopped for offside.
In the 54th minute, the Man Utd duo combined once again to greater effect, Pogba's cross from the right finding Ibrahimovic, but the Swede headed wide from eight yards out.
Two chances either side of the hour mark nearly saw Liverpool draw first blood, but De Gea was able to save from Emre Can's tricky shot, while substitute Adam Lallana fired wide moments after coming on.
Jose Mourinho's charges effectively stifled and suppressed their opponents but rode their luck several times as Philippe Coutinho's ferocious long-range shot drew an acrobatic save from De Gea.
With just a few minutes left, Antonio Valencia bailed his side out with a last-ditch tackle after Coutinho put Firmino through on goal with a defence-splitting pass.
Ultimately, the final whistle blew on a stalemate which saw the points shared between the two Premier League giants.
The result keeps Liverpool fourth in the Premier League, while Man Utd remain seventh in the table.
Giuseppe Labellarte
