Liverpool returned to the Premier League’s summit with a draw at Manchester United.

An injury-plagued first half saw the hosts use all three substitutes before the half-time interval as the ascendancy appeared to be with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

But the Reds failed to take full advantage of their arch-rivals’ vulnerability and ultimately moved clear of Manchester City in the title race by a solitary point.

Here were the key talking points from Old Trafford:

A missed chance as Reds return top

 

This was supposed to be the afternoon when Sir Alex Ferguson ate his words.

Manchester United’s legendary manager notoriously claimed that his greatest achievement was, give or take an expletive, knocking Liverpool ‘off their perch’.

He will have been breathing a sigh of relief that the day of reckoning has been deferred as the Reds failed to deliver a true mission statement in the title race.

United’s starting line-up found itself decimated by injury throughout the first half but Jurgen Klopp’s side could not fully take advantage of their hosts’ misfortune.

Eternal optimists will considered it a point gained in the context of the see-saw battle with Manchester City for the Premier League rather than two dropped.

Make no mistake, however, this was a missed opportunity for the current leaders.

Milner switch backfires again

 

Klopp’s choice of James Milner at right-back carried both method and madness.

Already this season, the midfielder has been largely unconvincing when deployed on the right-hand side of defence. More of them same followed at Old Trafford.

United were able to exploit Milner too easily going forward while his deliveries at the other end of the field left a lot to be desired with a distinct lack of quality.

Resting Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of another testing week may have been logical in the Liverpool manager’s eyes but the makeshift switch isn’t working.

Salah’s United stigma goes on

 

Of the 28 teams that Mohamed Salah has plundered goals against to date, Manchester United is the one which remains conspicuous by its absence.

The Egyptian clearly knows how to find the target, but the Red Devils remain the one demon which he has still failed to overcome in four successive outings.

Salah never appeared likely of scoring against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges, in truth. He appeared leaden in front of goal despite finding some good openings.

The often reliable fallback of set pieces also eluded him, with his efforts troubling more supporters in the Stretford End than David de Gea in United’s goal.

A 50th league goal at Anfield ould have been the perfect occasion for Salah to end his United hoodoo. The ‘Theatre of Dreams’ remains the stuff of nightmares.

De Gea upstaged on his own turf

 

Time was that the Premier League’s best goalkeeper was a foregone conclusion.

De Gea will be fortunate to even be ranked in the top two by the start of next season after being upstaged in his own domicile by an imperious Alisson Becker.

United’s stopper was largely untroubled by a toothless Liverpool attack while his opposite number made a string of impressive saves to thwart the hosts.

His most notable came in the first half when Jesse Lingard bore down on goal, only to be denied by the onrushing Brazilian, who got down brilliantly to clear.

Alisson’s penchant for misadventure has left him under siege on occasion but there was absolutely nothing to fault about this latest performance.