Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to create much of note in the first half despite having 15 shots on goal, with Virgil van Dijk going closest as his header from a corner was tipped over by Andre Onana. Instead, the home supporters were left frustrated as a number of promising attacks fizzled out in front of the Kop.

Liverpool did show more endeavour after the break, but they were still unable to really stretch Onana in the United goal. Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate forced him into routine saves while Trent Alexander-Arnold fired wide on a couple of occasions, but the Merseysiders couldn’t find a way through against their old rivals before Diogo Dalot was sent off in stoppage-time.

GOAL rates Liverpool’s players from Anfield…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Alisson Becker (6/10):

A spectator for much of the afternoon, but spread himself well to deny Hojlund midway through the second half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10):

Did his best to drive Liverpool forward, both from the right-hand side and when he came inside into midfield. Fired narrowly wide on a couple of occasions.

Ibrahima Konate (5/10):

Solid enough defensively but often slowed the game down when he was in possession. Took too many touches and his passes lacked pace. Wasted a couple of chances at the other end, too.

Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

Barely gave United’s forwards a sniff and made a couple of key challenges. Denied by Onana with a header in the first half.

Kostas Tsimikas (7/10):

Did a lot of good defensive work up against Antony and put in a couple of fine crosses that weren’t capitalised upon.

Midfield

Wataru Endo (4/10):

Combative at the heart of the Liverpool midfield, but doesn’t provide enough when he needs to advance the ball himself. A solid back-up for Mac Allister, but not a genuine replacement.

Dominik Szoboszlai (3/10):

Looks a shadow of the player who was superb in the opening weeks of the season. Misplaced a number of key passes, with many ending promising attacks, and was replaced on the hour-mark.

Ryan Gravenberch (6/10):

Worked hard, especially out of possession, and always looked to drag Liverpool forward when he got on the ball. Forced off with an apparent injury in the second half.

Attack

Mohamed Salah (4/10):

Struggled to combine effectively with Szoboszlai as he too misplaced passes or showed a heavy touch. Guilty of shooting from too far out as Liverpool got more and more desperate.

Darwin Nunez (3/10):

His goal drought goes on, and he showed few signs of ending it as he was locked down by Varane and Evans. Continues to stray offside too often, and really should have kept going when he opted against shooting and instead appealed for a penalty.

Luis Diaz (6/10):

Looked dangerous when he got the chance to dribble at Dalot, but those opportunities were too few from a Liverpool perspective.

Subs & Manager

Cody Gakpo (6/10):

Gave Liverpool a little more incisiveness in attack, but decision-making wasn’t always the best.

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Drove forward from right-back but fired wide when well-placed.

Harvey Elliott (5/10):

Energetic but couldn’t create anything of note.

Curtis Jones (5/10):

On late on.

Jurgen Klopp (5/10):

Surprisingly only made one change from the underwhelming display against Crystal Palace and his players struggled again. Substitutes couldn’t bail him out this time around.