Manchester United 0 Liverpool 0.
Here’s how we rated the players.
Man United
David de Gea – 6
The Man United goalkeeper was rarely tested as Liverpool’s attack failed to create many goalscoring chances.
Ashley Young – 6.5
After a nervous start, Young improved and grew into the game, hitting some well-timed forward passes as United sought to spring counter-attacks.
Chris Smalling – 6
Solid defensively, but found himself needlessly offside for a goal that was ruled out and failed to attack a Lukaku cross in the final minutes.
Victor Lindelof – 7
Lindelof was United’s best player in a disjointed first half. He was composed and cool under pressure as his teammates dropped like flies all around him. The Swedish defender was also comfortable on the ball defended well.
Luke Shaw – 7.5
He kept Salah quiet with an aggressive, mature performance. Man of the match.
Scott McTominay – 6.5
The Scottish midfielder was brought into the team after Nemanja Matic picked up a muscle injury in training, and didn’t disgrace himself. He kept it simple in possession and worked hard when United were without the ball.
Ander Herrera – N/A
Forced off injured, but not before he committed three fouls in 25-minutes.
Paul Pogba – 6.5
He had some brief flashes of quality without producing the magic that we have become accustomed to over the last two months. He still worked hard and was always involved.
Juan Mata – N/A
Mata was one of those forced off with an injury, lasting just 25-minutes.
Romelu Lukaku – 6.5
Lukaku was one of United’s better players. He created the clearest scoring chance of the first half with a deft pass through to Lingard. He also held the ball up well, helping United get up the pitch and he coped well with the physical challenge of Van Dijk. His crosses from the right were a threat.
Marcus Rashford – 5
A tough afternoon for the striker, as he was clearly playing through the pain barrier. He was the first of United’s players to go down with an injury but was forced to play the entire game as Solskjaer used up his substitutions.
Substitutes
Andreas Pereira – 5.5
A first-half substitute, Pereira had no real impact on the game.
Jesse Lingard – N/A
He missed the clearest goalscoring chance of the first half, but clearly wasn’t match fit and was had to go off injured soon after.
Alexis Sanchez – 5
Sanchez looked desperately short of confidence, a shadow of the player he was with Arsenal and Barcelona. His touch let him down and he posed no threat to Liverpool whatsoever.
Liverpool
Alisson Becker – 7
The Liverpool goalkeeper made a brilliant save to prevent Jesse Lingard from opening the scoring in the first half after rarely been tested before that.
James Milner – 5
Milner started at right-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who struggled in the same fixture last season. He failed to offer much of a threat going forward and was poor in possession. A rare underwhelming performance from Milner, who was playing out of position.
Joel Matip – 7
Probably the best player on the pitch in the first half, Matip was strong defensively and helped get Liverpool up the pitch by carrying the ball out of defence on several occasions.
Virgil van Dijk – 6.5
Van Dijk returned to the team after sitting out the goalless draw with Bayern Munich due to suspension. His task was made easier with the injury to Rashford.
Andrew Robertson – 5
A quiet afternoon by his standards, Robertson was largely pinned back and rarely involved.
Jordan Henderson – 5
He started the game well but faded as Liverpool’s midfield failed to fire.
Fabinho – 5.5
Couldn’t find the pass to unlock United’s defence as he did in the game between the two sides at Anfield in December.
Georgino Wijnaldum – 5.5
He has had a very good season but offered very little at Old Trafford after a promising start.
Mohamed Salah – 4
Liverpool’s talisman had a very quiet afternoon after a bright start and posed very little threat to United.
Robert Firmino – N/A
The Brazilian forward was busy but was forced out injured just after a half an hour into the game.
Sadio Mane – 4
Anonymous.
Substitutes
Daniel Sturridge – 4.5
On the edge of the game, making just 24 touches in an hour.
Divock Origi – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
Xherdan Shaqiri – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
