Liverpool versus Manchester United again failed to live up to the hype as Jose Mourinho's safety-first policy saw him once more frustrate the hosts at Anfield, writes Carl Markham.

United goalkeeper David de Gea made one brilliant reaction save from Joel Matip in the first half but Jurgen Klopp's side failed to break down well-organised opponents.

It is a criticism which has been regularly levelled at the Reds this season but was perhaps excusable on this occasion considering the rivalry and the quality - United began the day joint top - they faced.

While United were not as dour as in last season's game here, there was no doubt Mourinho had reined in the attacking intent of a side which had previously scored 33 goals in 11 matches.

Ander Herrera was tasked with taking care of Liverpool's creative fulcrum Philippe Coutinho, with the Brazilian restricted to one really dangerous defence-splitting through-ball in the first half which overlapping full-back Alberto Moreno wasted with an overhit cross.

Liverpool's Joel Matip shoots from close range (
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David de Gea pulls off a brilliant save (
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Mohamed Salah, on the right wing, was more of a threat and gave Matteo Darmian a testing time with the defender lucky not to concede a free-kick - or worse - right on the edge of the penalty area.

De Gea, who saved brilliantly with an outstretched foot at close range from Matip, could only watch as Firmino's deflected cross off Darmian rolled wide of his far post but for all Liverpool's dominance the goalkeeper was hardly tested.

At the other end of the field in-form striker Romelu Lukaku cut an isolated figure and his frustration boiled over as he took out Joe Gomez but escaped with only a warning from Mike Atkinson, who also decided no action was required against Lukaku with Dejan Lovren rolling around on the floor suggesting he had been caught in the face by a stray boot.

Jurgen Klopp during the game (
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Jose Mourinho shouts encouragement (
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United's one chance came just before the break when Lukaku exchanged passes with Anthony Martial but was denied by Simon Mignolet, with Moreno throwing himself at Ashley Young's shot from the rebound.

A similar pattern developed in the second half, with Coutinho frequently dropping deeper and more central to try to change the angle of attack.

It was to no avail, however, as - despite three attacking changes late on from Klopp with Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke introduced - their best chance came when Emre Can volleyed over Gomez's teasing cross.

Matteo Darmian keeps an eye on Mo Salah (
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Emre Can vies Ecuadorian midfielder Antonio Valencia (
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United, by contrast, failed to have a shot on target after the break. Lukaku, with 16 goals in 13 appearances for club and country, was virtually anonymous as his quest to become the first United player to score in his first eight Premier League matches ended with a whimper.

But Mourinho is always looking at the bigger picture and his mantra has always been not to lose the big games.

With that he got what he came for. Again.

It may have briefly handed the initiative to Manchester City, who were ahead of them only on goal difference at the start of the day, but United's boss takes a longer-term view.

Jose Mourinho complains about injuries

Mourinho blames the defeat on a lack of options.

United have been blighted by injuries.

The United boss told the BBC:

“The opposition was good today, but we played our game. In the first half we had a couple of very good chances and good control of the game.

“In the second half Matic tired and I had no solutions on the bench. I tried with my substitutions to make us more dynamic in attack, but in reality we lost power and energy and control in midfield.

“I needed my bench, and I didn’t have a bench.”

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Jurgen Klopp on United's tactics

Klopp refuses to blame Mourinho for killing off the game with poor tactics.

“For sure you could not play this way at Liverpool but it’s OK for Manchester United.”

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David De Gea on his save

Here’s David De Gea making his good save sound really easy on Sky Sports.

“I don’t know how I saved it I tried to react quickly.

“In the end I put my foot in the way.

“It was a really good save but I need to keep my levels high.”

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Joe Gomez and Joel Matip

Joe Gomez was given the man of the match award by Sky Sports, and he and Joel Matip have been talking to Geoff Shreeves.

Gomez:

“It is a bit frustrating with the chances we had.

“We will take the positives of a clean sheet and point against good team

“They had a couple of chances but we are frustrated for not winning.”

Matip:

“We had a lot of possession. We had more than them.

“It was a great save from David De Gea.

“I had to score and maybe we would have won.

“His reaction was brilliant.”

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Performance

Not a great game in the slightest, in fact that might be one of the worst games of the season so far.

Disappointing all-round.

Here’s Mirror Football’s Alex Richards’ comical take on it...

That's that

So there is the final whistle.

United go top of the Premier League...for now.

Mourinho’s men didn’t come for the win and they get the point they craved.

A lot of frustrations for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

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Love in

Coutinho and Klopp and best buds again.

The pair had their run ins in the summer with Coutinho wanting to move to Barcelona.

But all is happy again...for now.

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Why Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho shook hands with a Liverpool supporter during derby at Anfield

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was spotted shaking hands with a Liverpool fan during the derby at Anfield on Saturday.

The gesture caused some confusion among fans watching the game, who took to Twitter to ask why the Portuguese was engaging with a rival fan from the crowd.

Others claimed that it was one of the more exciting things to happen from the match, where both teams cancelled each other out for large spells.

But it seems the gesture wasn’t all that kind on both parts, despite Mourinho and the Liverpool supporter smiling at each other for the cameras.

The Reds supporter had apparently been in possession of the match ball when it had gone out of play moments earlier, and Mourinho had called for it back.

But instead of throwing it to the opposition manager, who has a strained relationship with the Liverpool fans from his time as Chelsea and Man United boss, the supporter chucked it away.

This caused a delay in play and a cheer from the Liverpool fans watching one of their own defying the United boss in front of the world.

READ MORE HERE


Winner?

Is anyone going to find a winner?

United have barely had an attack in this second half but will they go for a smash and grab.

Six minutes to go...

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Jose Mourinho

Mourinho master-class or Mourinho madness?

United have been scoring goals for fun this season, at an average of 3.2 a game.

They face an under par Liverpool and lock up shop.

If they grab a late winner, he’ll look a god.

If they don’t, it looks like dropped points.

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Touches

This stat looks pretty bad for Lukaku.

Less touches than Mignolet...

...and the Belgian keeper hasn’t really been tested.

Goal less

This is starting to look bleak for goals.

United have still yet to kick into gear and Liverpool are not quite putting enough pressure on De Gea.

20 minutes for both sides’ to break the deadlock.

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Liverpool attacking

Every time Liverpool attack it seems to be a strange target in the middle of the box.

The biggest chances of the game have fallen for Matip and Can.

Not ideal.

Both were central in the box.

The question is...why is Firmino not waiting to hoover up a tap-in?

Odd.

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Philippe Coutinho

Strong start to the second half from Coutinho.

The Brazilian is finding little pockets of space between midfield and defence.

He can’t quite find the clever passes to open up the United backline for Firmino.

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Sadio Mane

Would this man have made a difference this afternoon?

Sadio Mane has been ruled out for six weeks after picking up an injury on international duty.

The Senegalese speedster could have scared the living daylights out of Smalling and Jones.

Meanwhile, we are back underway.

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"How's he not been booked!?" Liverpool fans slam Romelu Lukaku as Manchester United star throws his weight about

Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku had the Anfield crowd on their feet when he wiped out Liverpool defender Joe Gomez in Saturday’s derby.

The Belgian international, who was quiet throughout the first half of the early fixture, attempted to disposes the 20-year-old near the touchline.

But letting frustration get the better of him,made a reckless swipe for the ball and ended up taking Gomez’s legs out from under him.

The young defender fell to the ground in a heap, and was lucky to avoid injury, as the Reds fans around Anfield jumped to their feet to complain.

The centre-back went down off camera, but Sky Sports replies showed that Lukaku caught Lovren with his boot while he was on the ground.

READ MORE HERE

Big games need big players.

We all thought it would be the likes of Coutinho and Lukaku today.

But actually it has been De Gea.

That save is the only thing preventing Livepool boasting a 1-0 lead at the break.

Half time

There’s the half time whistle.

Liverpool have been the better side.

They have been dangerous in attack and solid in defence - the potent mix.

David De Gea’s top save is the closest they have come to breaking the deadlock though.

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Romelu Lukaku

This is about as close as Lukaku has got to the ball this afternoon.

Between Matip and Lovren they have tracked his every move and nudged him out the game.

Impressive, and clever, defending.

You have to imagine he will get one chance to score.

Unless he is sent off...

His temper has already got the better of him and the Belgian was lucky not to see red for a late reckless tackle.

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Liverpool BIG chance

What a save that was from David De Gea.

Matip was at point blank range when De Gea managed to block with his feet.

Salah stole the ball off Coutinho for the rebound.

Problems for Mourinho as United are looking very ragged - Klopp has his number and nullified the threats.

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Truth from Rathborn

Romelu Lukaku might be the top scorer in the Premier League but he has been a ghost this afternoon.

Liverpool have done a number on him and he is struggling to find space in behind.

He didn’t touch the ball in the first 17 minutes amazingly.

Seen a couple of complaints on social media that he isn’t holding the ball up well.

But Mirror Football star writer Jack Rathborn has made an interesting point....

Advantage Liverpool

The Reds are dominating the mid-part of this first half.

Plenty of possession and starting to build some good chances.

A potential way to go is down the flanks.

Seems to be plenty of space for Moreno and Alexander-Arnold to expose.

United have been shackled.

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Someone in the crowd

Big names in football have flocked to Anfield.

We saw Louis van Gaal earlier, and now this bunch.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Gareth Southgate and Gary McAllister.

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Early action

Evens stevens so far, not a lot to spilt the two sides after nine minutes.

United look slightly more convincing in attack, while Liverpool struggle for the final ball.

Potentially a lot of nerves out there.

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Off we go

Here we go!!!!

Can United go top?

Can Liverpool stop them?

Answers here...

Manchester United warm up

And here is United going through their paces.

Time is ticking now.

Liverpool warming up

Liverpool are almost prepared to face their rivals.

Jurgen Klopp has gone out to cast a close eye on his stars as they warm up.

Just 10 minutes to kick off now.

The excitement is growing.

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The reason Manchester United star Marcus Rashford was dropped by Jose Mourinho against Liverpool

Manchester United fans were shocked as Jose Mourinho dropped star striker Marcus Rashfordfor their Premier League game with Liverpool.

Mourinho decided to start Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan either side of top scorer Romelu Lukaku in their derby clash.

Rashford has impressed this season have netted five goals in nine appearances for the Red Devils this season.

But Mourinho has revealed Rashford was sent to the bench after picking up a knock while on England duty last week.

READ MORE HERE


Keeper warm ups

We move every closer to kick off just 20 minutes to go now.

The keepers are going through their warm ups.

Big day for Mignolet and De Gea.

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The Normal One?

The state of this.

What’s wrong with just wearing a normal replica kit.

A name on the back is wrong if you are over 14, give or take a year or two.

But his bloke is not in the vicinity of his teenage years.

Anyway rant over.

It is The Special One vs The Normal One.

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