No more lies, here's the truth about why Liverpool didn't beat Man U

From the historic 7-0 scoreline of the last English derby at Anfield, Liverpool and Manchester United moved on to a thrilling goalless stalemate, a goalless siege that saw Jürgen Klopp's side cede the lead to Arsenal and breathe life into Erik ten Hag, who saved the day with a remarkable defensive display.

Liverpool's 144 attacks, the high tempo, the 34 shots were more than enough to make them worthy winners, but they paid for their lack of finishing. They had to respond to the pressure of closing the day knowing that Arsenal, who are above them in the standings, and Aston Villa, who are level with them, had won. It was City's slip-up that they squandered.

And it wasn't for lack of will, as from the very first second of the game they put Manchester United away with crosses and corners. Many of them were finished off with the aerial power of Van Dijk and Konaté, which provoked the best version of Onana, a goalkeeper with reflexes. Unpredictable in his overhead kicks, such as the one that almost cost his team an upset when Darwin missed and Salah was not accurate in the rebound. Insecure in taking unnecessary risks with the ball at his feet. Played too often with fire because of Liverpool's suffocating pressure against a Manchester United low block, fighting but lacking attacking fangs. It was all down to the emergence of Garnacho against the world. And yet they came close to scoring once, on 55 minutes, when Alexander-Arnold was the saviour in a defensive action that prevented a clear plan for a counter-attack from being rewarded.

Lack of punch  

United weathered the gale unscathed in their worst moments of the first half, held in place by the figure of Varane who emerged in front of crosses in a career-high clearance. The Frenchman was an impassable wall against a Liverpool side as insistent as they were ineffective. Salah always appeared but connected very little with Darwin Nunez, who did not have the best of games in the final reads of attacks. With room for longing in United's midfield, such as the absent Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, there was no explanation for Rashford's presence on the pitch.