MAN UNITED 1, LIVERPOOL 1
Manchester United failed to make it a perfect 10 straight victories at they were held at home by Liverpool.
The Reds came up short and were indebted to an 84th minute equaliser from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as they staved off defeat.
It looked as though James Milner’s first-half penalty would give Liverpool victory until the Swede headed his 19th goal of the season.
United, now unbeaten in their last 15 competitive games, remain sixth but would have draw level on points with fifth-placed Manchester City, walloped 4-0 at Everton, had they made it 10 wins in a row.
But looking at the bigger picture, United are four points outside the top four, but a whopping 12 behind leaders Chelsea.
United manager Jose Mourinho thought the game mirrored so many others of the the current campaign as they again struggled to score in the opening half of games and also came up against an opposing goalkeeper in top form.
“We have had a problem all season. We start matches well, but do not score many goals in the first half and then the opposing keeper make big saves. And he (Simon Mignolet) made an amazing save from Zlatan,” he said.
Mourinho described it as a game that was “great publicity for the Premier League”.
He said: “It was a very emotional game, very entertaining.I believe every player from Manchester United and Liverpool are very tired as they gave everything they could to the limit.
“I think Manchester United can play better than they did. Though it is not my problem, I think Liverpool can play better.
“The game was below quality from both teams, but it was a proper Premier League match and proper derby that had the lot.”
Mourinho added he was not happy, but when his team scored late in the game it feels better than had they conceded.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klop thought his side was the better team and they had two great chances late on to win the game.
He said: “It definitely feels like we lost. I am fine about the performance which is important as well as the result.
“When you look at the circumstances, a point at Old Trafford looks okay but, unfortunately, it doesn’t feel like that as overall we were the better side for 75 minutes.”
That was borne out by the stats as Liverpool had 13 goal attempts to United’s eight, though United enjoyed 55-per-cent possession.
United made four changes from the side that started Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi final against Hull City.
There were recalls for Ibrahimovic, Michael Carrick, Anthony Martial and Marcos Rojo as they took over from Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling.
Liverpool preferred Divock Origi to Daniel Sturridge while there was a full Premier League debut for 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold who replaced injured right-back Nathaniel Clyne.
After an uneventful opening, United gradually began to carve out chances.
Ibrahimovic, stretching to reach Martial’s cross, diverted the ball wide from three yards.
Mignolet’s clearance from a Dejan Lovren back pass was charged down by Ibrahimovic and looped back over the keeper landing on the roof of the net.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan then split the Liverpool defence to release Paul Pogba who rolled his shot wide with only Mignolet to beat.
Liverpool took the lead very much against the run of play in the 27th minute when United conceded a penalty after handling a corner as he made an aerial challenge with Lovren.
Former City player Milner scored with an excellently dispatched spot kick, his sixth of the season. Milner has yet to lose a Premier League game in which he has scored, that sequence now standing at 51 matches.
United came within a whisker of equalising five minutes later when his fiercely struck free kick was brilliantly kept out by Mignolet.
The Belgium keeper pulled off an even better save to deny Mkhitaryan, put through by Ander Herrera, was he kept out his goalbound shot.
Liverpool had a chance to double their lead when Lovren’s cut back took a deflection and looped up before landing on the top of the bar.
Mourinho made a change at half time as Rooney replaced Carrick.
Liverpool had an early chance to extend their lead when Origi cut in from the left, but his shot deflected off Phil Jones for a corner.
Philippe Coutinho came on after an hour for Liverpool and within a minute he set up Roberto Firmino whose angled shot was well saved by David De Gea.
Mourinho made a second change mid half when Mata replaced Martial as United looked for ways to unlock Liverpool’s defence.
And Mourinho made his last throw of the dice with 15 minutes left when Marouane Fellaini came on for Darmian. Mkhitaryan switched to left back and Rooney wide left as Fellaini went into the No 10 spot just behind Ibrahimovic.
The equaliser came after 84 minutes, though Antonio Valencia was offside in the build up, a luck break for United.
Rooney’s cross was header against the upright by Fellaini and Valencia put the ball back for Ibrahimovic to stoop to head home.
The momentum was with United as they pressed for a winner, but they were liable to be caught on the counter and Georginio Wijnaldum had two chances to snatch victory as a draw was probably a fair reflection on the game.