Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took a sanguine view of his side's lacklustre 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Monday night, saying there are "worse things in the world" than such a result.
Klopp notably rued his side’s inability to consistently threaten the United defence, but ultimately took heart from taking a point.
Arch rivals Liverpool and United failed to spark as England's two most successful clubs played out a forgettable goalless affair in the Premier League.
Victory would have lifted Klopp's in-form Liverpool level with leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, but they remain fourth after seeing a five-game winning streak come to an end at Anfield.
Liverpool came closest to winning, United goalkeeper David de Gea thwarting Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurned the visitors’ best chance with a weak header.
Klopp was critical of Liverpool’s largely ineffectual display in attack, but also said “I accept it”.
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“They didn’t create chances, maybe two in the second half, and De Gea made two or three great saves, but in the end our performance was not what it should be,” said Liverpool manager Klopp.
“We weren’t calm enough. That is not the way we want to play, but I accept it. We got a point. There are worse things in the world.”
Klopp could console himself with a first clean sheet in 10 league games, but it was the first time his side had failed to score at home in the league since a 1-0 loss to United exactly 10 months previously.
It was the first night game in front of Anfield’s rebuilt Main Stand.
Liverpool were without the injured Georginio Wijnaldum and with Adam Lallana only fit enough for the bench, there was a sluggishness to their play in the early stages that United looked to exploit.
The visitors had four attempts on goal before Liverpool mustered one, home goalkeeper Loris Karius gathering deflected shots by Ibrahimovic and Marouane Fellaini and pushing away a Marcus Rashford cross.
Rashford and fellow winger Ashley Young dropped deep in United’s defensive phase and Liverpool were reduced to one sight of goal in the first half, De Gea catching Roberto Firmino’s back-post header.
Referee Anthony Taylor, who attracted attention in the build-up due to the fact he hails from Altrincham in Greater Manchester, kept his cards in his pocket despite several late challenges.
But his patience ran out when United centre-back Eric Bailly caught Daniel Sturridge and Young was then booked for dissent after Jordan Henderson escaped censure for a foul on Ander Herrera.
Paul Pogba created a clear chance for Ibrahimovic early in the second half with a deep cross from the right, but the Swede totally misjudged his header and the ball bounced harmlessly square.
At the other end, De Gea got down smartly to thwart Can, who had neatly sidestepped Chris Smalling, and also produced a flying full-stretch save to touch Coutinho’s 25-yard curler wide.
Lallana’s introduction for the anonymous Sturridge just before the hour enlivened Liverpool and Mourinho responded by sending on Wayne Rooney for Rashford.
Lallana’s clever flick freed Firmino for a late chance, but the Brazilian was denied by an impeccably timed sliding tackle from Antonio Valencia.
*Agence France-Presse
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