Manchester United vs Liverpool: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's injury gamble backfires as Reds reclaim title lead

Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side moved one point above Manchester City

Liverpool were unable to take advantage of Manchester United losing three players in the first half to injury but reclaimed the lead at the top of the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard were forced off in quick succession presenting Liverpool a chance to claim victory.

Chances were far and few between in a match that never truly recovered from disrupted first half. United had the ball in the back of the net but any celebrations, both in the stadium and from Manchester City supporters, were cut short due to an offside in the build-up before Joel Matip fired into his own net.

Here are five things we learned from Old Trafford

Liverpool take command in title race

Avoiding defeat was the minimum requirement for Liverpool, anything more would be a bonus. The point takes Liverpool above Manchester City, albeit by one point, with both sides playing 27 games.

Defeat against United would have been catastrophic, not just because of the points advantage it would give City, but also the way it could have potentially damaged morale in Jurgen Klopp’s side.

With so many injuries to United this was perhaps a missed opportunity for Liverpool and one of those games that come the end of the season will have a huge say in the final outcome.

Solskjaer shows naivety in rushing back Lingard

Jesse Lingard’s chances of playing in this game were just short of impossible after picking up an injury against PSG. However, the forward was named on the bench after responding well to initial treatment.

When Juan Mata’s game was over in the 25th minute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a decision to make. Lingard or Alexis Sanchez? Was Lingard really fit enough to play? The interim manager saw fit that Lingard was the better option, but this gamble failed and has possibly cost Lingard a few weeks of his season.

The decision backfired when Lingard appeared to tweak a muscle and signalled he could not continue. Sanchez eventually came on and Solskjaer’s error was clear for all to see.

Questions will be asked about the necessity to risk bringing him on so early with another player available. Lingard has been imperative to United’s rise back up the Premier League table, but is now likely to miss a key run of matches.

This is now where United need Sanchez to put together a good run of performances for the first time in his Old Trafford career.

Nemanja Matic was added to United’s growing injury list before the game and after 20 minutes Ander Herrera joined him. Mata became the second player to depart shortly afterwards and Jesse Lingard limped off having recently come on.

The injuries did not just hamper United. Liverpool were forced to bring on Daniel Sturridge on in the first half to replace Roberto Firmino.

United respond to formation change

The first 45 minutes passed without a single noteworthy effort on goal. Neither side looked particularly creative and United were especially poor in possession.

The 4-4-2 diamond that has served Solskjaer so well in his short time at Old Trafford was allowing Liverpool space in wide areas and was not troubling the visitors’ defence. Of course it is worth mentioning that the injuries in the first half hampered this. Solskjaer had to change.

United responded well to their formation change (AFP/Getty Images)

A switch to 4-3-3 at the break served United well. There was more control to United’s defending and the number of chances increased. United were looking dangerous from set-pieces and Lukaku was having much more joy on the right flank against Andy Robertson.

Van Dijk a welcome return for Liverpool

While Virgil van Dijk’s absence through suspension in the 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich was not perhaps as badly felt by Liverpool than first feared, there was definitely a sense of relief to have him back in their ranks against United.

Rashford’s scintillating form was paused by the commanding defender and you have to double-check the highlights to see whether Romelu Lukaku was actually playing, although the latter is probably as much a mark against the United forward rather than a compliment to van Dijk.

Virgil van Dijk was impressive on his Liverpool return (AFP/Getty Images)

Alisson continues to impress when it matters

In a first half completely dominated by injuries that halted the flow of the game, Alisson could have suffered from a momentary lapse in concentration here and there. But this is one of the best goalkeepers in the league we’re talking about.

When Lingard collected Lukaku’s disguised pass and knocked the ball beyond the goalkeeper, what the 70,000 supporters at Old Trafford and the millions around the world expected to follow was a penalty and a nervous wait on the referee’s verdict, but Alisson reached out an arm and superbly dispossessed the forward.

For goalkeepers it is the biggest games where the value is truly found, and Alisson is looking like every bit of the £67m goalkeeper Liverpool bought in the summer.

Luke Shaw too deserves an honourable mention. His defending against Mohamed Salah made one of the most dangerous wingers in football look very ordinary and he was replaced by Divock Origi with 15 minutes to go.