Injuries to Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Roberto Firmino and Jesse Lingard disrupted Liverpool's 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Sunday.
2018/2019 Premier League
0-0
Match Reports
Liverpool returned to the Premier League summit despite being held to a 0-0 draw by bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in a match that was marred by first-half injuries to four players.
After days of anticipation and excitement, the match swiftly descended into farce in the first period, as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Roberto Firmino and Jesse Lingard were all forced off injured, and the match struggled to recover from an entertainment perspective.
The medical staff were rather less busy in the second half and that allowed Liverpool to increase the pressure, generally dominating against a United effectively playing with 10 men due to Marcus Rashford struggling with a knock.
Player Ratings
Match Events
20' Injured Herrera replaced by Pereira
Herrera's game comes to an end with less than a quarter of it played. Pereira, who has struggled to hold down a place in the side, is the man to come on. That three-man midfield is looking very makeshift now.
25' Substitution! Mata replaced by Lingard
Mata receives some treatment to his ankle but is unable to continue. Lingard, who has been rushed back from injury to take a place on the bench today, is brought on in United's second enforced change of the first half.
30' Firmino goes off injured too
The third enforced change of the first half sees Sturridge replace Firmino through the middle for Liverpool. There must be something in the air!
42' Injured Lingard replaced by Sanchez
This is becoming comical now. Lingard is the FOURTH player to leave the field injured and we are not even halfway through the game. Lingard was clearly not fully fit, having been rushed back from injury well ahead of schedule, and he is replaced by Sanchez after just 15 minutes on the field.
56' CHANCE! Rashford's shot wide out
SLICED WIDE! Feeding off what is a terrific atmosphere inside Old Trafford, United are starting to push their opponents back. Lukaku does not give up on the ball when it arrives in the box and it eventually falls for Rashford, who slices it into the side-netting from an angle.
76' GOAL DISALLOWED! Matip OG ruled out for early Smalling offside
GOAL DISALLOWED! A huge roar goes around Old Trafford, but the offside flag is up to cut the celebrations short. Shaw sends in a delightful free-kick towards the back post and an offside Smalling's first-time delivery into the middle is turned into his own net by Matip. The Liverpool defender is relieved that the linesman spotted the offside infringement.
Line-ups
Man Utd XI: A. Young, J.Mata, David de Gea, A.Herrera, Smalling, R. Lukaku, V. Lindelöf, P. Pogba, L.Shaw, M. Rashford, S. McTominay
Subs: A.Sánchez, Sergio Romero, Fred, J. Lingard, A.Pereira, Bailly, Diogo Dalot
Liverpool XI: Milner, Wijnaldum, J. Henderson, Matip, Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Salah, Van Dijk, S. Mané, Fabinho, A.Robertson
Subs: Sturridge, S. Mignolet, Lallana, X. Shaqiri, Origi, N.Keita, T. Alexander-Arnold