As You Were.

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3 years ago
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Manchester United have made history thanks to Sunday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. United ensured that they completed a full year unbeaten away from home in the Premier League.


United's next trip to Fulham is on Wednesday - 20th January, which is 366 days after the last setback in the league on 19 January last year, when United lost 2-0 to Liverpool.


The draw at Anfield now means United are now without defeat in their last 16 on the road in the Premier League – a run of 12 wins and four draws.


No team has taken more points than United's 23 away from home this season, and those efforts have been the main driver behind the rise to the summit of the league and as shared in the last match when United won Burnley to go top, it's the first time United have led the table this deep in a season since Sir Alex Ferguson's final campaign in 2012/13.


Solskjaer has never won against Liverpool as a coach and this proved to be another tough test. A tough host against a team that has been brilliant on the road; 16 games undefeated in the league.


This is the 205th match between these two and Rashford had a cross cleared so early on in the game. Both teams didn't kick into the game immediately as Liverpool dominated possession while United was contented to defence with their lives. United would be okay with a point but Liverpool needed the 3 points more. Both teams were being cautious and Liverpool did nothing with their early dominance all through the first half. That killer pass was missing and United defended so well.


Liverpool did all to find the answers but couldn't even in the 14th minute when Robertson got the opportunity at the edge of the box only to blast it over and 2 minutes after, the chance Mane passed to Firmino only for him to fire wide on his weaker foot.


In the 17th minute, Bruno passed to Fred who ran the length of the field and found Rashford who was then called for offside. Shaqiri also had an effort deflected for a corner. 


In the 22nd minute, Mane was found with a pass, he passed to Firmino who brilliantly turned but Lindelof blocked his effort. The block fell graciously to Salah but he blazed it over.


Liverpool pressed strongly with a series of attacks and blocked shots but they couldn't find that final break. They bombarded United and showed they needed that 3 points.


In the 33rd minute, Shaw was brought down by Shaqiri and Bruno Fernandes took the freekick that he narrowly missed. A minute after, Salah had a great run and the ball trickled into the path of Firmino after so many legs but he could manage only a tame effort. 


In the 35th minute, Rashford was put through one on one but he had too much touch while trying to find Pogba. Pogba couldn't sort out his legs and the ball was cleared. Rashford had too many offside calls against him. His timing for his runs was not perfect. Both teams lacked the cutting edge as the first half came to a close.


United are yet to beat an established top 6 team in the league this season.


Bruno had a chance in the 53rd minute that was blocked by Fabinho for a corner kick. That was United's first corner while Liverpool had 4. 


In the 58th minute, Robertson had a cross to Firmino that Maguire brilliantly blocked. In the 61st minute, Ole brought in experience when Cavani entered the fray while Martial was taken off. Walsh tried to squeeze a shot in but he was blocked in the 64th minute while Fernandes also should have passed but rather had a tame effort at the goalkeeper.


Cavani drew a foul and a freekick was given only for Rashford to fire straight at the wall. Pogba also had a weak header from a corner kick.


Bruno has a golden chance in the 75th minute when Rashford found Shaw who in turn found Bruno and he had his effort saved by the feet of Alisson.


Thiago Alcantara had a long range shot pushed away by De Gea and a few minutes after, Thiago shot wide.


Both teams tried to find that one goal that is needed to win the match but they couldn't.


Rashford wasted a wonderful and brilliant run that could have led to a goal in the 82nd minute when he had the choice to either find Cavani or Pogba but he kept running till he was pushed away to the side - away from the threat and just a minute after, a brilliant effort by Pogba would have been enough but Alisson saved even after Pogba hit the ball so hard. 


Alison saved a point for Liverpool as United had a series of late chances but nothing came out of those. United finished strongly and should be happy to get a point at least due to Liverpool's first half dominance.


This Post First Appeared Here.​​​


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