Liverpool dropped points at Anfield for the first time this season with a wretched 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had won all 11 of their previous home games across all competitions, racking up 35 goals in the process, but scarcely looked like extending their winning sequence with a desperately underwhelming display.
The deafening pre-match buildup surrounding the latest meeting between England’s two most successful clubs revolved around the likelihood of another Liverpool thrashing. As United were constantly reminded, their last trip to the red half of Merseyside in March ended in a 7-0 humbling.
However, a goalless and joyless first half did not point towards either side combining for seven shots on target let alone seven goals.
People forget the majority of Liverpool vs Man Utd matches are some of the worst games you’ve ever seen in your life.
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) December 17, 2023
very “friday night fa cup 2nd round tie on the BBC red button”, this
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) December 17, 2023
Liverpool dominated territory, possession and the shot count, limiting United to one touch inside their box throughout the first half. Yet, Klopp’s side did not deliver the “full-throttle performance” that their manager had demanded pre-game.
Man Utd have found a way to play at Anfield…drag the opposition down to their level of quality.
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) December 17, 2023
This game has been Andre Onana taking five seconds over booting the ball out of play and Liverpool taking 10 seconds over giving it back to him.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) December 17, 2023
The interval didn’t spark any noticeable improvement. Klopp’s substitutions have altered plenty of matches this season and the Liverpool boss rattled through the changes but no combination that he sent out managed to rise above the ineptitude drenched across the pitch. A far more passive Erik ten Hag seemed content to escape with a point.
Unsurprisingly, players on both sides of this famous old rivalry incited the ire of an underwhelmed public.
You look at Amrabat and his lack of quality on the ball and just presume he has some freakish physical qualities but, no, he runs like he’s got two dead legs.
— Marty (@Martyjhill1) December 17, 2023
Dominik Szoboszlai has been absolutely dreadful today. Completely mistiming his passes, taking far too long on the ball and should have picked up a yellow just now for an embarrassing dive.
One of the worst players on the pitch. Not good enough.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 17, 2023
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) December 17, 2023
A much-hyped contest short on goalmouth action was littered with errors. Liverpool, in particular, were desperately wasteful.
Liverpool look so rushed in the final-third. I know at their best they aren’t an elaborate attacking team, but they’re having so much of the ball that they just need to panic less
— Liam Tharme (@LiamTharmeCoach) December 17, 2023
A stunningly poor game of football.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 17, 2023
Diogo Dalot, bless him, tried to liven things up with a stoppage-time red card. The Portuguese full-back appealed for a throw-in after the ball appeared to come off a red sock but referee Michael Oliver gave the decision to Liverpool – much to Dalot’s evident dismay.
Not content with one yellow card to punish the volley of abuse directed at him, Oliver handed Dalot two bookings in rapid succession.
That’s a joke! 😂
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 17, 2023
The first match of all time to be so boring that the co-commentators start debating “phases of dissent”
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) December 17, 2023
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