For the first time since league matches between Liverpool and United kicked off in 1904, there have now been successive goalless draws at Anfield.
And as was the case after last season’s stalemate, it was Jose Mourinho’s men who were happier with the result.
They preserved their unbeaten Premier League record and maintained a seven-point advantage over their bitter North West rivals.
A big chance fell to Liverpool defender Joel Matip, who looked to have put his side ahead in the 35th minute when he steered Roberto Firmino’s cross goalwards from close range.
But United keeper David De Gea, who a minute earlier had made his first save of the match from Georginio Wijnaldum, pulled off an astonishing save as he stuck out a foot to deny the Reds centre-half.
The rebound fell kindly for Mo Salah, but the winger couldn’t repeat his World Cup qualifying heroics for Egypt as he steered his effort wide of the post.
It was the day Liverpool wanted to celebrate the opening of the Kenny Dalglish Stand in style.
Klopp said of one of his predecessors at Anfield in his programme notes: “The best tribute we can pay to Kenny is to perform well and win the match.”
But they couldn’t quite honour the Kop legend in they way they sought to do.
The closest United came in a first half in which the two sides cancelled out each other was through Romelu Lukaku.
The striker got a clear sight of goal but put his effort too close to Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet. Earlier, Nemanja Matic was just over with a left-foot strike.
Klopp felt Lukaku could have received a red card for a foul on Dejan Lovren, but that challenge didn’t even bring a booking.
Emre Can lifted a volley over the top from Joe Gomez’s cross in the second half, and Philippe Coutinho had penalty claims waved away when he went down under Ander Herrera’s challenge.
But the game continued to follow a familiar pattern, with United content to sit back and rely on breakaway raids.
Liverpool applied late pressure with a flurry of corners in added time, but none of them troubled the United defence.
In the end they were indebted to that save in the first half by De Gea.
And it was fitting that waiting to congratulate him was United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel.
The great Dane was right to appreciate a shut-out by the super Spaniard.
