Thank you very much for joining me.
Here is Andy Hunter’s report from Anfield.
Bus news.
Jurgen Klopp: “A lot of good things, the one thing I don’t like is the result. We should have scored, we had a lot of chances – we should have had more – but we rushed in moments. I liked the intensity and everyone saw we really wanted it. I think the boys played a really good game. If we scored, it would have been brilliant.
“I can’t remember such a dominant performance against United, even in the 7-0 they were more in the game.”
“We can disagree,” says Keane. I would accept that Daniel, mate.
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Keane might go find Van Dijk to pass on his views at this rate. Sturridge is back in and Keane won’t even look at him. It’s not exactly lighthearted viewing.
Roy Keane fumes at Van Dijk’s “arrogance” after saying United didn’t come to try and win, adding he has “disrespected the club”. Daniel Sturridge tries to disagree but might not make it out alive.
Virgil van Dijk: “You see how we played the game, having most of the ball and having most of the opportunities. There was only one team trying to win the game, so it is frustrating.
“We could have made better decisions in the final third. I am frustrated because we were superior in all aspects. They are buzzing with the point, we are disappointed with it.
“We should have won it today, that is disappointing. We have big games coming up so we can’t dwell on it.”
Scott McTominay: “We’ve got a number of injuries which doesn’t help the squad. We knew it was going to be tough. We had to stay calm and stick together. We are disappointed we couldn’t make more of a game of it.
“It is always hostile when you come here – we know that. The boys did everything today that they could have. I am proud to have led them out today. It is a shame we could only draw. We are disappointed we couldn’t create more opportunities.
“It is the greatest honour of my career to captain United.
“It takes balls to come out and play for this football club. We can build on this.
“He [Ten Hag] is a great manager and a great man-manager who can take us on to great things.”
Liverpool had a total of 34 shots – the most of any team this season – but only eight were on target as they drew a blank.
It is a very positive result for United but the important thing, as always, is to build on it but they face a very difficult trip to West Ham on Saturday.
Back to the question of man of the match … I would go Varane but I wouldn’t argue with any of United’s back five or Amrabat.
End of match correspondence.
Dechlan Brennan: “Liverpool’s lack of end product quality today was startling, especially considering the season they’ve had. Can rightly say United had the best chance of the game.”
Colum Fordham: “Everything but the Goal? Could be the band name inspired by this breathless, ultimately disappointing match. If only Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low shot had not gone a whisker wide. Shame.”
United looked organised and their back five enjoyed an impressive game to keep Liverpool quiet. Klopp will be left to wonder how things did not click today. He made a number of changes throughout the match but they made no difference.
Full time: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
It was certainly not a classic. Liverpool were very poor by their recent standards and United were able to keep them out without much fuss.
90+4 mins: Dalot is dismissed for two booking in quick succession. He is unhappy that Liverpool are awarded a throw-in incorrectly and his protestations are dealt with harshly by Oliver.
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90+3 mins: Rashford and Shaw combine on the left, allowing the former to drive in a low cross but Liverpool clear.
90+2 mins: Rashford flies into a challenge on Tsimikas just outside the box. A booking for the forward is given. It is a free-kick in a dangerous position for Liverpool … Alexander-Arnold lifts it in but Gakpo heads over.
90 mins: Five minutes added on.
89 mins: Much to United’s relief, Alexander-Arnold whips a cross straight out for a goal kick. I think United will try to waste a lot of time now. A draw would be a fine result for them, even if Liverpool have been poor.
88 mins: United get a free-kick on the right flank but decide to take it quickly and ping it straight into Alisson’s hands.
87 mins: Hannibal does not get a free-kick after being tripped, so Shaw takes out United’s frustration by crudely scything down Konate. The left-back is rightly booked after a mini melee.
86 mins: Gomez pops up inside the box and rifles a shot from a tight angle but it smashes into the sidenetting.
85 mins: Tsimikas sends in a cross that misses everyone in read but does seem to hit Shaw’s hand. It is not a penalty, despite Liverpool’s best claims. Not much reason to watch too many replays.
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84 mins: Gakpo drives towards the box before shooting from 20 yards but Varane is in the way to block. Gakpo does love shooting from absolutely anywhere.
83 mins: Richard Harris suggests: “If Liverpool fail to score then Onana has to be MOTM surely?”
I would suggest any of the back four …
82 mins: Elliott tries to inject a bit of energy into proceedings but it ends with a shot from 25 yards that Onana gobbles up.
Hojlund looks pretty tired up top for United but they do not have anyone who could naturally replace him. Pellestri and Hannibal are on for Mainoo and Antony.
80 mins: Tsimikas sends Liverpool’s 11th corner of the match into the box but Van Dijk loops a header straight to Onana.
78 mins: Konate controls the ball in the box and spins on a six pence but he is not a striker and calmly shoots straight at Onana.
Elliott and Jones on, Nunez and Diaz off.
76 mins: WHAT A CHANCE! The ball reaches Diaz in the box and he fires at goal but there is block from Onana. Nunez does not chase the rebound because he thinks there is a penalty for a foul on Diaz but he is very wrong.
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75 mins: Elliott is getting stripped to come on, Jones too.
74 mins: Liverpool are struggling to do anything of use in the final third. They are just hoping something comes up. Nunez chips a pass over the top to no one.
A pass goes down the line for Nunez to chase but the ball goes out for a goal kick. Nunez claims a foul but the referee is not keen.
72 mins: Antony is working very hard defensively. I am not his biggest fan but he has certainly put in a shift today.
70 mins: United have been boosted by that Hojlund chance. And go on another attack but McTominay is stopped in the box.
Liverpool go down the other end. Salah gets in the ball inside right and cuts in looking for the far corner but it is a fine save from Onana.
The United go back down the other end but McTominay fires over from 25 yards. A lively couple of minutes.
Here comes Rashford! Garnacho off.
We might have a football match here.
68 mins: A lovely move from Manchester United! Antony passes to McTominay who turns it round the corner for Hojlund to latch onto, he holds off the defender and takes aim from eight yards but it is straight at Alisson and the striker cannot do much with the rebound.
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66 mins: Antony has the chance to slip a ball through the defence for three players to chase but sends it straight to Konate.
Down the other end, Alexander-Arnold aims for the bottom corner from 18 yards but his shot slides wide.
Dechlan Brennan emails: “I think Klopp through his tenure has done so well to get the best replacements for injured players. But it is very noticeable that they lose a lot with Robertson injured down the left flank.”
64 mins: Gomez does down the right for his first involvement in the match. He pulls the ball back to Salah on the edge; the Egyptian takes aim for the far corner but Onana has little trouble catching the ball.
63 mins: United have had to defend on the edge of their own box quite a lot this afternoon but they have done it well. They look organised and disciplined, making it very difficult for Liverpool to find gaps to work with.
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62 mins: Gomez receives some instructions from the coaching staff. Gakpo replaces his compatriot Gravenberch, while Gomez comes on for Szoboszlai. Alexander-Arnold goes into midfield.
61 mins: Jeremy Boyce emails: “As a neutral (actually a NastyLeeds) I was looking forward to some hot red-on-red action today, but as it goes I am thinking of listening to the latest Gardeners Question Time podcast to fill up time before reading that Klopp had been stretchered off as McTominay scores a 90+7 mins goal deflected of Virgil’s arse to deliver Man U a resilient 3 points and give Ten Hag a peaceful week with only the sword of Damocles hovering over his neck.”
60 mins: Szoboszlai throws himself to the ground when in the vicinity of Amrabat in the box. It is a dive and he deserves to be booked.
Klopp is looking at his notebook, potentially plotting a change. Gomez on for Endo and push Alexander-Arnold into midfield? He might be forced into one as Gravenberch goes down injured. Gakpo ready to come on.
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58 mins: Jamie Carragher: “This has been absolutely awful.”
57 mins: Richard Harris says: “Ten Hag clearly has 0-0 as his Plan A, so when Liverpool score the question is does Plan B mean United try to equalise and risk getting stuffed, or do they carry on with Plan A and take a narrow defeat?”
55 mins: Diaz drives towards the box but Dalot holds his ground and performs a fine tackle. The Portuguese is having a good game at right back.
Down the other end … Garnacho gets the wrong side of the Liverpool defence thanks to a ball through the middle from Mainoo. The Argentinian is through one-on-one but Alexander-Arnold gets back to tackle him.
53 mins: Hojlund wins a free-kick near the halfway line. The Dane had four touches in the first half.
Dalot puts a cross into a dangerous area but there is no one in white to get on the end of it and Alisson claims.
51 mins: It is very much all Liverpool in the second half. Salah aims a cross for Nunez but Onana beats the Uruguayan to the ball. Liverpool have upped their performance and I think United will need to do the same to match them.
49 mins: Jeff Sax agrees with Eric Peterson: “He is right!!! Fernandes not playing is a positive thing for the team.”
47 mins: Just like the first half, Liverpool start on the front foot. They make it into the box and Salah shoots but a United defender is there to block.
Another attack comes with Salah laying the ball into the path of Alexander-Arnold, he takes a couple of touches and fires into the sidenetting. The full-back runs back to his position while trying to get the crowd going. Liverpool need a lively Anfield.
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Second half
Here we go again!
“I’m desperate to send you some keen insight or amusing commentary to liven up the MBM but that whole half was so unbelievably Meh! I’m feeling about as inspired as Roy Hodgson press conference.”
I am doing my best, Richard South.
“Hello from Pittsburgh!” hello Eric Peterson. “A Manchester United team playing with cohesion and composure in a hostile atmosphere? Credit to the leadership among the players on the pitch, and in particular the absence of a supposed leader whose tempestuous and combative comportment on the pitch is far too often at odds to what should be expected from someone who wears the armband. Addition by subtraction.”
Tim Gill sums it all up: “Man U haven’t been terrible. Liverpool haven’t been great. You’re welcome, that’s free at this time of year.”
John Magee offers: “Just a thought about about all this extra time being added on to games that managers and players feel is potentially adding to the risk of injury in an already crowded schedule. What about if it was made optional.
“Scenario - at end of each half - amount of possible extra time is announced
Then both managers have a device which can signal the referee that they do not wish to have it, If BOTH managers dont want it - the ref blows the whistle and the half or game is over.
”Rationale. Most of the time if a team is losing you would assume that the losing team would want the extra time - esp at the end of a game. But if it was already 3 or 4 zero the game is essentially over and not sure what’s to be gained by going through motions of an extra X minutes on tired legs.
At end of first half the both managers may just want to talk to their teams whether they are winning, losing or drawing. At the same time if one manager wants the time - exciting finishes would not be lost.”
Half-time correspondence …
Antony O’Connell emails: “This Liverpool United game is basically… One team afraid of getting hammered and the other afraid of getting caught on the break.”
Philip Haran says: “The only way Utd will score will be a monumental error from Liverpool. They are totally dominant. It looks like a damage limitation exercise already.”
Dechlan Brennan: “Nunez will get himself sent off one day (perhaps today) for his consistent shaking head and kicking the ball away. It’s minor but unbearably petulant and will cost his team. I’d simply not stand in an offside position if I didn’t want to be offside.”
Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
Liverpool have dominated possession but not provided that extra bit of quality or spark in the final third. The game is lacking in overall quality and United will be happy with that at this stage. Let’s hope for better after the break.
45 mins: “This is the worst atmosphere I have seen at Anfield for a Liverpool-Man United game.”
Two minutes added on.
44 mins: Salah fumes about being penalised for a foul on Garnacho, which might be a sign of his overall frustration with the situation.
42 mins: Gravenberch pings a pass to Salah 20 yards from goal, he takes a touch and shoots but his low drive does not have the power required to test Onana who drops on the shot.
40 mins: Onana looks to send the ball out to Shaw but instead finds touch. United have been good defensively but given the ball away too often when trying to play out from the back.
38 mins: Liverpool have enjoyed two thirds of possession, helping them to create 13 shots at goal but only two have been on target. United are yet to have a shot on target.
36 mins: Diaz glides past Amrabat who pulls him back to earn himself a booking. That’s both of United’s defensive midfielders in the book now with 55 minutes to go.
The free-kick is lifted into the box and headed out to Gravenberch on the edge of the box. He volleys it straight back but sees his shot deflected wide. The resulting corner is attacked by Konate but he heads over from six yards.
34 mins: Alexander-Arnold lets a simple pass roll under his foot and out for a throw. Liverpool must be a little frustrated that they have not tested Onana too much despite their dominance.
32 mins: Anfield seems a little quiet. Have United won the first battle by keeping Liverpool at bay for half an hour? The next step for United to threaten in the final third.
30 mins: Peter Oh says: “The sight of United’s teenage midfielder stooping to tie his bootlaces just a few minutes into the match took me back. Picture this. It’s 2009. Fernando Torres is bearing down on the United goal with the nearest defender getting caught up in the wheels of El Niño’s chariot. Somewhere in Manchester, the Mainoo family is watching as Liverpool equalise on the way to an emphatic win. Young Kobbie shakes his head in dismay and turns his attention back to practising shoelace-tying.” I didn’t see this email ending here.
28 mins: Mainoo joins Nunez in the book with a late sliding challenge on Endo.
Liverpool win their seventh corner of the match. Alexander-Arnold lands it perfectly on Van Dijk’s head but it goes straight at Onana, who tips over.
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26 mins: Martin Lancon calls for Nunez to be off: “Yellow for foul, yellow for kicking the ball away, ( CF v Bournemouth last week) yellow for applauding referee’s decision?”
He has a point …
24 mins: Antony tries to slip the ball through the Liverpool defence but it is blocked by Endo’s arm. The referee does not spot the infringement, however, much to United’s chagrin.
I don’t think Hojlund has touched the ball yet.
22 mins: Nunez is penalised by the assistant referee for barging into Evans’ ribs without making an attempt to win the ball. He is rightly given a yellow card before moaning about the decision.
20 mins: Liverpool are all over United and must take great pleasure whenever they give their opponents a goal kick. The latest ends well for United as Onana drops the shoulder to send Nunez the wrong way.
18 mins: United have already caused themselves a few problems with their inability to play the ball out from the back. It does not seem to be a sensible ploy to use.
Diaz drifts across the pitch with the ball at his feet before laying it off to Salah, who cuts in but his shot is blocked by Shaw.
16 mins: Lordy! Alexander-Arnold lifts a cross to the back post from the right. Nunez heads it down towards Gravenberch and Diaz but neither can turn the ball goalwards and United scramble it behind.
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14 mins: Antony controls a throw-in from Dalot and looks to pass it back to the full-back but he’s run off and the ball goes out of play. Neither are happy with the end result.
12 mins: Szoboszlai receives the ball from Diaz in the middle of the pitch, he gets the ball out of his feet and takes aim from 30 yards but his shot flies well over the bar. I think Liverpool are keen to test Onana early on.
10 mins: Onana receives a backpass from Varane and almost trips over the ball but he does manage to get rid. I think there are a few nerves within the United team.
United move the ball quickly and it reaches McTominay on the edge of the box, he lays it off to Garnacho who cuts in and fires wide.
8 mins: United have barely left their half. Antony gets to the edge of the box and does his traditional attempt to curl the ball into the far corner but Tsimikas blocks it.
6 mins: Liverpool win two corners in quick succession. The second goes deep to the back post, via Varane’s head, where Salah is waiting, he chests it down and takes aim but his shot goes just wide.
United try to play it out from the back and it goes badly wrong as Amrabat is tackled facing his own goal but the ball goes out for a goal-kiick. They might need a plan B.
4 mins: Endo drives into the box but is held up by McTominay. We are not a long way into this match but Liverpool are certainly on top.
In other news … the United team coach was damaged on the way into Anfield.
A Liverpool statement read: “Liverpool Football Club utterly condemns the actions that led to damage being caused to the Manchester United team bus during its arrival at Anfield this afternoon. We are aware of footage of the incident circulating online and are working with Merseyside Police, to fully investigate and identify those responsible. Any individuals found guilty of this reprehensible behaviour will also face the full force of the Club’s sanction process.”
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2 mins: Liverpool go straight at United, they can sense weakness. Tsimikas wins a corner on the left within 20 seconds. The ball is just about cleared out the box but a late challenge on Gravenberch by Amrabat gifts Liverpool a free-kick in a dangerous position. Tsimikas whips it in, Onana gets nowhere near ir and needs Amrabat to whack the ball off the line.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
There are 57,000 inside Anfield as part of their stadium expansion is now open. The biggest crowd at the ground in 50 years.
Sir Alex Ferguson is at Anfield, a reminder of better times.
Jurgen Klopp: “It is a huge opportunity. We have to play an extremely good game, if not United will be there.
“They will be more motivated after the 7-0 defeat. They will not want to feel like that again. It is long ago, who cares about that? We need to focus on this game.”
Justin Kavanagh is offering free advice to the United hierarchy: “If United do decide to let Ten Hag go, the only coach I can think of who might make a winning proposition of this current rabble is Lionel Scaloni. He inherited an Argentina squad which, despite having a wealth of talent, hadn’t won anything for years and he somehow turned them into Copa America and World champions. He’s recently threatened to walk away from the national job, probably fed up with the internal politics … so he’d have good experience of the mess he’d walk into at Old Trafford, if he could be persuaded. Of course, United fans should remember … he probably won’t be able to sign Lionel Messi.”
Ten Hag on naming McTominay captain: “He is one of the examples of what it means to play for Manchester United, to play with the badge on his heart. The others can follow his example. I’m sure he will be a communicator; I’m sure he will be an example of passion and desire. You need that in this game.
On Rashford: “He was ill and is not fully back in terms of power and strength but he can come on and make an impact.”
Marcus Rashford returns following illness but only makes the bench. If United stay in the game, he could make a difference in the second half.
Josh Holtby offers a rallying cry: “I really feel for Ten Hag. He’s clearly a great coach; Ajax and a first (admittedly the least important) piece of silverware and top four finish last season the evidence for this.
”So what’s gone wrong? An awful injury list hasn’t helped, and he’s still fixing a mismatched squad of varying quality and commitment, but you simply cannot overestimate the unsettling effect of the ‘strategic review’ in all of this. Imagine how paralysing this must be for the club’s senior leadership team. Even now, with only one buyer and a year’s due diligence, the ‘sale’ is still a perpetual week away. And even then, it still leaves the dead hand of the Glazers firmly on the club as facilities crumble and that overall leadership is as absent as goals from the strikers this term.
”So give ETH some support. He’s already shown the inner strength some supposed big names lacked, and when the luck changes (it will) he’ll be alright.”
Not sure I have ever known expectations to be this low for Manchester United. Ten Hag was asked at his press conference if he would take a 2-0 or 3-0 defeat. I suspect a few fans would accept it now.
“Let’s play the “who gets in the other team” game!” says gamesmaster Luke Jones. “I’d say from Manchester United, Hojlund would have the best chance of making the Liverpool squad, certainly with Jota out. Maybe Shaw would make the bench too? The other way around, Endo is the only LFC player who wouldn’t certainly walk into the United starting lineup.”
“Maybe I’m just too superstitious,” says Henry Flory, “but given that no one expects anything from Man U, their whinger/creator-in-chief is out, and Liverpool have been pretty stodgy of late, I’m expecting a very close game. Especially since last year’s humiliation was actually much closer than the eventual score suggests …
”If only I were able to watch!”
The latest on Lockyer.
Karen As’adi emails: “I hardly think Ten Hag is the one who’s going to take us to the promised land but alternative would be another Rangnik-esque season, simply because there’s not really a good option right now. So let’s keep him this season, if it didn’t work out maybe we can entice De Zerbi in the summer. But more important things must change first.”
A good time to chuck out my Mainoo piece from a couple of weeks back. United think he is rather good.
Jonny Evans starts at centre-back, Mainoo in midfield and Hojlund gets the nod up top. Will Liverpool be worried? I doubt.
Starting lineups
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Jones, Elliott, Gakpo, McConnell, Quansah, Bradley,
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Shaw; Amrabat, Mainoo, McTominay; Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho
Subs: Bayindir, Kambwala, Reguilon, Wan-Bissaka, Gore, Hannibal, Pellistri, Van de Beek, Rashford
Who will start for United? No one knows.
Jeff Sax has been in touch: “Ten Hag is not up for the job. The results show it and all the articles written in your paper explain it. Put us all out of our misery and let him go!”
Maybe today is the day he turns it around.
Rumours surfacing that McTominay will be captain in Fernandes’ absence. What a turnaround for him at Old Trafford. Ten Hag was happy for him to be sold in the summer and now he is one of United’s most important players.
Liverpool are certainly on a roll. I was at their home game against Fulham where they managed to secure a late win through Trent Alexander-Arnold. They were not a their best but Klopp was able to tweak things throughout the game to give Liverpool an edge, moving Alexander-Arnold from right-back to central midfield. This level of adaptability is really helping Liverpool progress this season.
An update on Tom Lockyer’s condition from Luton: “While our captain Tom Lockyer remains in hospital following the cardiac arrest he suffered on the pitch at Bournemouth yesterday, we understand that supporters are concerned for him and that there is widespread media interest in his condition. Tom is still undergoing tests and scans, and is awaiting the results before the next steps for his recovery are determined. We are unable to provide a running commentary on his situation, and request that all media please wait for any updates to be released via the club’s official channels when the time is right. We all want the very best for Tom, his partner Taylor and the whole Lockyer family, and politely ask that his and their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
While our captain Tom Lockyer remains in hospital following the cardiac arrest he suffered on the pitch at Bournemouth yesterday, we understand that supporters are concerned for him and that there is widespread media interest in his condition.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 17, 2023
Tom is still undergoing tests and… pic.twitter.com/yDTRzmEIVk
Alternatively, get my words on Liverpool and United from this morning’s paper.
Get in the mood with some pure Jonathan Wilson …
How will United line up? I will take a punt at … Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Dalot, Mainoo, Amrabata, McTominay, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.
Preamble
I seem to remember this game being quite a momentous one last season. Can anyone remember the score? Oh yes, it was 7-0 to Liverpool. Things had looked so good for Erik ten Hag until that point but it really was a complete and utter humiliation that day for his not-so-brave boys. The previous weekend was a triumphant one as they lifted the League Cup but they still failed miserably against a Liverpool that would go on to finish fifth.
Coming into this fixture is a greater worry for Ten Hag with his side enjoying their season-long crisis. Their past two matches resulted in a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth and being dumped out of the Champions League. They are are without their captain through suspension and have a lengthy injury list. The signs are not good.
The worse news for United is that table-toppers Liverpool are really good at football. Summer signings have settled quickly and proving Jurgen Klopp could have another tilt at the title. Liverpool have won every game at home this season and they will not be fearful of their opponents.
It should be an entertaining watch.
Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT
