Jaded Liverpool lack guile to start solid United
18 January, 2021
There is a 33-point gap between champions Liverpool and Manchester United last season consequently a 0-0 draw at Anfield, which kept Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's visitors top of the desk, represents a significant shift in the North-West balance of power.
However, Sunday's face was as much about Liverpool's current problems since it was a demonstration of the maturing of Solskjaer's side into real Premier League title contenders as they preserved a three-point gap more than their hosts.
It was the 3rd straight game where Liverpool have didn't score and the first time they have already been kept goalless in Anfield found in the Premier League since October 2018.
Credit for the tidy sheet must, of program, get to United's back-a number of, with Luke Shaw outstanding in left-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka solid on the other flank and central defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof comfortable throughout.
But lots of times in the past two superb seasons, Juergen Klopp's Liverpool side have played against sturdy and well-organised defences and still managed to open them up.
The early half-chances fell to Liverpool's Roberto Firmino but his efforts were weak and lacked conviction and the Brazilian looks to be badly looking for a rest.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who struck 37 goals between them in last season's title go, barely troubled United keeper David De Gea on Sunday and in addition struggled to stretch the back line, with their activity far less effective than in the past.
The absence through injury of Diogo Jota also robbed Klopp of another option up front.
"There is absolutely no easy description (for having less goals) You often miss chances. You have to keep going and try to disregard the talk around it. Everyone wants to discover goals. You cannot force it," said Klopp.
"It's football. These occasions happen. You have occasions where you can't clarify why you rating from all angles," he added.
Part of the condition may lay deeper found in the workforce, with full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, so devastatingly influential last term, neutralised by United.
Injuries meant the midfield had to be reshuffled with Xherdan Shaqiri and Thiago Alcantara, both beginning after lengthy spells on the sidelines, not providing the relentless pressing that is the team's trademark.
As the game wore on, Liverpool's initial strength dropped noticeably, a sign that maybe they are feeling the tempo of a congested fixture plan.
Given the tightness near the top of the desk, where five points split the top six, the subject may well be received by the team that may manage the load and have enough gas in the tank for the run-in.
Based on recent weeks United look a better bet when it comes to stamina however the race continues to be wide open, with Manchester City, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur also well put for a force in the next half of the growing season.
However, it could be a fool that doubted Liverpool's ability to regroup and discover the strength and momentum to pull free from their rivals again in the rest of the weeks.
"I would say the performance amounts haven't been up to your standards during the past few week," stated skipper Jordan Henderson, currently completing as a crisis centre back.
"We only showed that people have got to keep going, work hard and increasing. We won't stop now."
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