Liverpool were forced to settle for a first goalless draw with Manchester United in over 11 years.
Jose Mourinho’s side ground out a score-less stalemate but it was not for a lack of trying by the Reds, who threatened most through Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian’s stunning long-range attempt appeared goal bound but was narrowly tipped away by David de Gea midway through the second half.
Here were the talking points from the Monday night showdown…
Mourinho plays it again
Jose Mourinho took a tactical approach which drew heavily on recent history. If the plan was to repeat April 2014, when his Chelsea side killed the Reds’ title dream, it worked.
The antithesis to the upwardly mobile brand of football favoured by Jurgen Klopp, and Brendan Rodgers before him, is to stifle and suffocate it from the offset.
United had no trouble doing either for large parts, which offered little in the way of justifying the overblown hype which surrounded this encounter.
This is the challenge which Liverpool will face throughout the season; teams will try to stop them playing – and counteracting is what Mourinho knows best.
He took a particular delight in lamenting the hosts’ dominance before returning to the Anfield press room to correct United’s own possession statistics.
No doubt Tony Pulis will have taken note ahead of West Brom’s visit this Saturday.
Can off-key on first start
When United last travelled to Anfield in March, Emre Can was the undisputed star of the clash with an accomplished and commanding performance.
A follow-up seven months later appeared a relative certainty, except it wasn’t.
The German enforcer appeared sluggish in both his passing and decision-making after replacing the injured Georginio Wijnaldium in Klopp’s line-up.
This was Can’s first start for Liverpool since the EFL Cup win over Burton Albion on August 23 and the signs that he is still incredibly ring-rusty.
Karius needs the Mignolet treatment
It was the dilemma which will have dominated Klopp’s thought processes heading into ‘Red Monday’ – whether to start with Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet.
He opted for the former and was given a few heart-stopping moments as the former Mainz stopper continued to appear consumed by his nerves.
Commanding his area remains Karius’ greatest Achilles’ heel. He flapped at numerous crosses and was only afforded a let-off by a combination of factors.
Distribution was not much better as his misplaced pass into Paul Pogba was only redeemed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic being flagged in an offside position.
A spell on the fringes proved to be the making of Mignolet during the midway point of 2014/15. Klopp may wish to consider the same for treatment for Karius.
Sturridge’s struggles continue
There was a time when Daniel Sturridge’s mere presence in Liverpool’s front line was a guarantee of a genuine attacking threat with goals also a certainty.
Where has it all gone wrong for the England international?
Not only did Sturridge draw a blank against United, he never appeared likely to make Mourinho’s side hurt whenever he was in a position of influence.
He was not alone, of course, but it was telling that Liverpool had a greater conviction going forward after he had been replaced by Adam Lallana.
Klopp’s penchant for a multifaceted attacking line has seen the likes of Lallana and Roberto Firmino seize the mantle once occupied by Sturridge.
That in itself should set alarm bells ringing for the 27-year-old’s Anfield career.