Manchester United continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought draw at Anfield.

The Red Devils were out of sorts but held on for a point to edge ahead of rivals Manchester City in the table - for a couple of hours at least.

Liverpool's Joel Matip came closest to finding a breakthrough when he was denied by United keeper David De Gea from close range before the break.

Romelu Lukaku had a quiet day but Simon Mignolet had to be alert to beat away the Belgian's fierce strike in the visitors' best moment in front of goal.

Here's five talking points from the game:

Emre Can reacts to a missed chance (
Image:
REUTERS)

1. Diving will catch up with you

This is a fiendish fixture to referee with con-artistry, bleating, niggling and technical area histrionics at their peak.

It was always going to be a tough gig for Martin Atkinson and he certainly did not get everything spot-on but it was good to see him judging some situations by the form book.

Ashley Young, in particular, got little joy from Atkinson but having tried to hoodwink officials on so many occasions, what does he expect?

Philippe Coutinho also fell victim to a reputation for simulation.

That is the sad situation the game has arrived at … the first assumption referees make is that they are being conned.

And when you saw Dejan Lovren’s frenzied theatrical rolling, you cannot blame them.

Alberto Moreno tackles Romelu Lukaku (
Image:
REUTERS)
Ander Herrera challenges Georginio Wijnaldum for the ball (
Image:
REUTERS)

2. De Gea always finds a way

Let's face it, we don’t see enough of the top keepers around the world to truly judge whether he is the finest in the game but one thing is for certain - no-one in the Premier League somehow finds a way to make saves quite like David De Gea.

He is like the prolific striker who scores with his feet, his head, his knees, his backside, with anything.

It is no coincidence he is always in the right place at the right time.

There is no more valuable player in this Manchester United team.

David De Gea gathers the ball (
Image:
PA)
Jose Mourinho shakes hands with a Liverpool fan (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

3. Jury still out on Salah

Mo Salah never managed to convince Jose Mourinho during their time at Chelsea and while he certainly caused United a lot of trouble, there is still something missing from the Egyptian’s game.

Composure.

So many times, he created havoc only to select the wrong option - a pass rather than a shot, a shot rather than a pass.

He was still one of the contest’s most exciting players, though, and at 25, has a lot of improvement left in him.

Matteo Darmian keeps an eye on Salah (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
Philippe Coutinho drives forward with the ball (
Image:
Liverpool Echo)
Jordan Henderson and Romelu Lukaku get a talking to by Martin Atkinson (
Image:
PA)

4. If United win the title, it won't always be pretty

This was the type of match Jose Mourinho’s ego loves, allow the opposition to have possession and still not lose.

He will wake up in a lather, dreaming about it.

This might have been a job done but it really can’t have been that much fun for the travelling United supporters.

But they can expect a few more performances like this during the season.

Mourinho might triumph in the end but it will not be flamboyance all the way.

Emre Can and Antonio Valencia vie for possession (
Image:
AFP)
Romelu Lukaku gives chase (
Image:
AFP)

5. History only counts for so much

No-one quite does nostalgia quite like Liverpool. After the opening of the Kenny Dalglish Stand 24 hours earlier, the King came out pre-match to acknowledge the honour.

It was another great moment for arguably the club’s greatest-ever player but seeing Dalglish is always a reminder that Liverpool have not won a title since 1989-90.

This was a decent performance but not one that suggests they will be ending that drought any time soon.

Ander Herrera stops Philippe Coutinho in his tracks (
Image:
PA)
Matteo Darmian tries his luck from distance (
Image:
PA)
England boss Gareth Southgate watches from the stands (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
Jose Mourinho barks instructions (
Image:
REUTERS)
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