Liverpool: A cautious Manchester United frustrated Liverpool as a lackluster North-West derby ended 0-0 at Anfield here Sunday.
United manager Jose Mourinho set his team up to limit the space and opportunities for Liverpool’s attack and that approach worked at the expense of any real adventure from the visitors.
At times, Liverpool did threaten to break the leash which had subdued them. Principally there was a moment on 36 minutes when Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino produced a dummy which left Nemanja Matic bewildered. The Brazilian’s cross found Joel Matip six yards out: he shot and David de Gea saved brilliantly and instinctively while Mohamed Salah fired the rebound wastefully wide.
The visitors created little beyond a Romelu Lukaku shot two minutes before the interval which was well dealt with by keeper Simon Mignolet.
Undoubtedly Liverpool were the better side in that they seized the initiative. And Salah, fresh from his Egyptian heroics, was incisive, cutting inside United’s defence with his pace, though his penalty claim in the 16th minute was rightly waved away.
Late in the day, Manchester City emerged sole leader with 22 points, two ahead of rivals Man U, after a 7-2 rout over Stoke City. Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (17th and 55th) struck twice while Raheem Sterling (19th), David Silva (27th), Fernandinho (60th), Leroy Sane (62nd) and Bernardo Silva (79th) scored apiece for Man City.
Mame Biram Diouf (44th) was on target for Stoke while their second goal came as an own goal by Kyle Walker early in the second half.
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