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Liverpool lost a chance to usurp rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table after the two teams drew scoreless at Anfield on Sunday.
A rather lifeless encounter came to life with 15 minutes to go, when both Alisson and David de Gea produced good saves.
The tie meant United remained on top, two points ahead of Leicester and three ahead of the reigning champions, who failed to score for the third game in a row and have not won in four.
Liverpool’s Joel Matip was not fit enough to return to the team for the Arch United visit. So again captain Jordan Henderson was asked to play as provisional center-back.
It meant there was only one change from the team that lost at Southampton. Xherdan Shaqiri preferred Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led Scott McTominay and Fred to his midfield. The duo replaced Nemanja Matic and forward Edinson Cavani.
Victor Lindelof replaced Eric Bailly as the third change since the midweek win over Burnley that brought United to the top.
Anthony Martial went into form after a hamstring complaint and was paired with Marcus Rashford up front.
The locals started with greater intensity, with Andrew Robertson firing over the bar before Roberto Firmino also fired wide.
United looked like a threat at halftime, but Liverpool dominated the midfield without creating any real opportunities.
United came close to taking an undeserved lead in the 35th minute when Luke Shaw was cut 25 yards. But Bruno Fernandes curved the resulting free kick a meter wide.
Firmino sponges his lines
Firmino had another shot at the edge of the area moments later. But after a break from Salah, the Brazilian meekly shot De Gea.
A slightly disappointing opening period ended goalless, although United ended it with more presence in the game.
Unsurprisingly, the locals flew out of the traps again early in the second half. However, the game soon became an affair from start to finish, with both sides looking to use their rhythm at the counter.
Solskjaer turned to Cavani from the bench at the hour mark, Martial pushing through. But Liverpool kept pressing and Salah saw a deflected shot wide.
United occasionally hinted at their threat and had their first shot on goal with 25 minutes remaining when Fernandes finished off Alisson directly.
The Red Devils nearly broke the deadlock with the game’s best play in the 75th inning when Rashford played Shaw down the left and his court found Fernandes eight yards before Alisson saved magnificently with his legs.
Then De Gea was forced to make a big save minutes later when Thiago spun in midfield and unleashed a fierce shot from 25 yards.
Then Pogba had a great opportunity to win at close range after a good job from Aaron Wan-Bissaka. However, his effort was negated by another excellent stop from the prominent Alisson.
Despite much effort, neither team was able to force a winner at the end and the game ended goalless.
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