Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United: Matchday blog
Liverpool returned to action following the international break with a goalless draw against Manchester United at Anfield.
Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho went closest to producing a winner, but found David De Gea in unbeatable form for the visitors.
We covered all of the key events in this dedicated blog, so scroll down for a thorough recap of how the game unfolded.
LFCTV GO subscriber? Watch Klopp's post-match press conference in full below...
The manager's verdict
Jürgen Klopp was typically forthright in his post-match assessment...
"We lost patience much too early, that was the first problem, and then our passing game was not good anymore. We had 65 per cent possession, but you have to do better things with it when you have the ball. I didn’t expect we would have 10 or 15 chances before the game, but in the first half we could have had – with two better passes - two 100 per cent chances, which we didn’t. Second half, we had them but De Gea was finally warm and made brilliant saves. They had their chance with Ibrahimovic, which he would usually [finish] I would say."
Read Klopp's thoughts in full by clicking here.
Not to be for the Reds tonight, but take a look through the stats behind their efforts to find a winner...
Full Time
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
The Reds had much the better of the second half, with sublime De Gea saves denying Can and Coutinho, but Klopp's men are forced to settle for a point against their rivals.
Substitution
Shaw replaces Young for the visitors.
Yellow Card
Fellaini now shown a yellow for kicking the ball away.
Three minutes added on at Anfield...
Yellow Card
Ibrahimovic booked for a foul on Can.
Substitution
Double Liverpool change - Origi and Moreno come on for Firmino and Milner.
Close again for Liverpool but Firmino is prevented from reaching Coutinho's flick into the area by a last-ditch Valencia challenge.
United threaten with what is becoming a rare foray forward, but Blind's corner from the left is headed harmlessly wide by Fellaini.
Substitution
Rooney replaces Rashford for United.
Match shot
Into the last 15 minutes at Anfield... is there going to be a dramatic finale?
What a save.
An unbelievable moment from De Gea has kept out a sensational long-ranger from Coutinho, whose smash was destined for the top right corner until the Spanish 'keeper stretched to tip it away. Stunning and so unlucky for the Reds.
Lallana is already on the ball here and though he is way off target with a blast after a one-two with Firmino, it is better from the Reds as we enter the final half-hour.
Substitution
Here's that Liverpool change... Lallana on for Sturridge.
Close! Emre Can so nearly breaks the deadlock, collecting a ball into the area from Matip, holding off his man and scooping a low shot towards the left corner. But De Gea reacts to claw it away.
The boss is preparing to introduce Adam Lallana...
A big chance wasted by Ibrahimovic.
Pogba skips inside a challenge by Henderson in the right channel and sends a dipping cross to the back post, where the Swede is primed to head home but instead skews his effort away from goal.
A let-off for the Reds as Karius tries to return a pass to Lovren on the left flank but only finds Pogba, who picks out Ibrahimovic unmarked in the middle - but thankfully offside.
Kick-Off
Sturridge knocks the ball to Henderson from halfway and we're back underway at Anfield.
The latest odds...
Here is how the market looks at the break, courtesy of BetVictor...
Liverpool - 9/5
Draw - 5/4
United - 29/10
Click here for more details.
Pore over the stats from the opening 45 minutes...
Half Time
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
Little to report at the interval of a game that has involved a serious lack of goalmouth action. Firmino's headed chance was the best the Reds have produced so far.
Yellow Card
And now Young is cautioned for dissent.
Yellow Card
First booking of the night goes to Bailly for a foul on Sturridge.
Relief as Liverpool's offside trap holds true to prevent Ibrahimovic from making the most of being found free in behind by a pass over the top.
A first real opening for the Reds as Henderson clips a diagonal cross to the back post from the right for Firmino to nod at goal - but straight at De Gea.
Back come United and Karius has to get down quickly to push away a low cross into the area from Rashford, who engineered enough space to seek out a teammate.
It is not quite happening for Liverpool so far and Can drives a strike high over De Gea's goal as they try to turn the tide in the opposite direction
Ibrahimovic unleashes another effort - from the more reasonable range of the edge of the area - but it is half-blocked by Matip and becomes an easy take for Karius.
Match shot
Mane tries to move away from Fellaini in the early stages at Anfield.
The Reds are beginning to settle after a slowish start and Sturridge is unfortunate not to fully control a ping forward from Can that might have had the striker in on goal.
Ibrahimovic lines up an ambitious free-kick from more than 30 yards and gets plenty of power on it... but more than enough to send the ball sailing into the Kop.
If you can avert your eyes from live coverage, use our handy Opta chalkboard below to analyse the game as it happens...
The first eager challenge of the night comes from Rashford, on Milner, but the referee refuses to yield to claims for a yellow card by the home crowd.
Kick-Off
Amid a cauldron of sound, Ibrahimovic gets the game underway.
Come on, Reds!!
The two teams are out at Anfield and we're moments away from kick-off now. There is huge noise inside the ground, as you would imagine, and here we go with 'You'll Never Walk Alone'...
Take a glimpse inside the LFC dressing room at Anfield ahead of kick-off tonight...
TEAM IN FULL
Here’s that Liverpool team and subs bench in full…
Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner, Henderson, Can, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino, Sturridge.
Subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Origi, Grujic, Lucas, Klavan, Lallana.
TEAM NEWS
So, the team news you’ve all been waiting for is in and it confirms two changes for Liverpool to the side that began at Swansea City last time out prior to the international break.
They see Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can come into the line-up in place of Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum, though the former is deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
James Milner does the honours tonight for the pre-match interviews with host broadcasters at Anfield...
What we wouldn't give for some magic similar to this from Coutinho tonight...
Wise words from Lucas Leiva in the match programme...
"You don't want to lose any games, but this is a game you really don't want to lose because you suffer when you do. You feel it more if you lose this game and we know that often the result is decided by small details.
"I've had some not-so-good memories of playing against Manchester United, but I also have some very good memories from this game and that shows how competitive it has been during my time at Liverpool."
If you're in a rush and have missed any of the build-up to tonight's game, watch our 90-second preview below...
The stage is set...
Fancy a flutter?
Here's how the match odds are looking ahead of kick-off tonight, courtesy of our official betting partner, BETVICTOR.
Liverpool 13/10
Draw 23/10
Manchester United 12/5
Want to put a bet on it? Click here to do so with BETVICTOR.
Stat attack
Of the 48 Premier League meetings between Liverpool and Manchester United, how many have been draws?
Flashback
Another shot from the archives now. Here's Robbie Fowler enjoying the second goal of a 2-0 win for Liverpool against their old rivals at Anfield back in 2001.
An iconic celebration for those of a Red persuasion.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes might not be the first person you'd go to if you were looking for a positive soundbite about Liverpool, but the former England midfielder has certainly delivered here.
Previewing this evening's game, Scholes gushed about the Reds' progress under Jürgen Klopp and suggested United will find it hard going at Anfield.
"If you were betting, you would be betting on Liverpool. You can see Jurgen Klopp has stamped his way of playing football on the team. There is a definite way about them. You know how they are going to play: they are going to be quick; they are going to try to take the ball off you and try to score goals by flooding the box. I was worried about them defensively, but they have already played some of the big teams and they are a real threat. The form they are in, they look as good as any team in the league."
LFC Xtra
Warm up for tonight's game with a look at these 10 brilliant quotes on meetings between the Reds and the Red Devils players and managers past and present.
Liverpool FC will wear special shirts this evening in order to mark the fifth year of their push to tackle avoidable blindness alongside main sponsor Standard Chartered.
The jerseys, which will be emblazoned with the 'Seeing is Believing' logo, will be on show during tonight's meeting with Manchester United.
You can find out more about this worthy cause here - or watch the YouTube clip below.
Well this should get you in the mood for the big one tonight!
Relive our top 10 meetings with Manchester United with the free video below.
Injury latest
A cursory look at PhysioRoom.com's excellent Premier League injury table tells us United have just two fitness concerns ahead of tonight's game.
They are Henrikh Mkhitaryan (thigh) and Phil Jones (knee), though the former could return to the squad at Anfield.
As for Liverpool, you can read the latest from Jürgen Klopp here.
Talking tactics
Just what will the Reds be up against tonight?
Football writer Paul Wilkes has taken a look at the tactical approach of Jose Mourinho's side so far this season and has the answers here.
Travel advice
If you're heading to Anfield this evening for the big game, have a read of this to ensure you are properly prepared.
Weather
It's been raining on and off all morning in Liverpool but - good news - it looks like it's set to remain dry for the rest of the day.
And, if you're wondering what to wear to the match, then know it'll be 13 degrees celsisus come kick-off time. That, in my opinion, is coat weather.
Joel Matip doesn't know everything about games between Liverpool and Manchester United, but he knows the most important thing.
"Maybe I don’t know the whole history but I know it means a lot to Manchester United and our supporters and we have to do our best to make our supporters happy."
Flashback
Just having a look at this image from the last time Liverpool faced United at Anfield. More of the same please, Reds.
Ahead of this evening's game, we were fortunate enough to speak with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
And he is expecting a big, big night at Anfield.
"I think the atmosphere will be unbelievable so I don’t think it will be one when you need to get yourself pumped up for it. You’ll be dying to get out onto the pitch and when you are warming up you’ll start to feel that atmosphere starting to get lively."
Another brilliant #MyLFCMatchdayImage, there. Remember, you can submit your designs before every match by using the hashtag on Twitter or Instagram.
Why not start by taking a look at the numbers behind the two teams who will go head-to-head at Anfield tonight?
We've got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Opta widgets, which you can peruse at your leisure below.
Good morning and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog for tonight's Premier League meeting with Manchester United.
Fixtures don't come much bigger than this and it's sure to be another epic battle against Jose Mourinho's men this evening at Anfield.
As ever, we'll bring you all the best pre-match content, team news as soon as it lands, every kick when the game gets under way and all the reaction from L4 in our matchday blog.
Stick with us throughout the day so you don't miss a beat.