Reaction: Liverpool 0-1 Man Utd

1. Rooney smashes in after Fellaini hits bar
2. Strike was Man Utd's first on target
3. Van Gaal's side move up to fifth

If you are one of those football fans who likes goals as opposed to turgid 0-0 stalemates (you know who you are) you might want to head over to our European football live text where Real Madrid have scored three in 12 minutes against Sporting Gijon. Greedy.

Reuters

GREAT SAVE!

David de Gea to the rescue! Roberto Firmino drives past Chris Smalling in the box and fires low at goal but the United keeper saves with his legs to put the ball behind for a corner. Cracking block.

United on the break... Wayne Rooney is away... no, wait, he's not. For a second it looked as though the striker was going to beat Kolo Toure but the central defender stands strong, wins the ball and clears.

Getty Images

Liverpool corner. They follow United's lead from the first half with a delivery that is headed clear at the near post.

KICK-OFF

For the masochists who are still with me, the game is back under way.

It's not just cold at Anfield. The Britannia is a bit chilly too. I will completely understand if you want to abandon me right now to follow the live text commentary of Stoke v Arsenal, which has just started.

We've also got a commentary of Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon for you to follow.

PA

It's been pretty much what you would expect between two average Premier League teams...

Sloppy passing has led to an even share of the possession, while both sides have spent a similar amount of time in the other's third of the pitch. 

Opta

However, there's only one stat which really counts - and the scoreline has rarely looked like being troubled.

There have been nine shots in total (seven to Liverpool, two to United), but only two have hit the target.

Pat Nevin

Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Not a lot of quality on display. But I said the same thing when watching Chelsea-Everton at half-time and we had a cracker. I hope the same thing happens today.

"Martial has the real quality, he makes ground so quickly, He had one chance where he made ground incredibly quickly and his shot was blocked by Sakho. In a normal game you would not notice that, which sums up that lack of attacking efforts by United."

Let's not write this off just yet. If I remember rightly, the first half at Old Trafford was duller than Mastermind on mute, but improved significantly in the second 45 minutes. There is still hope.

'Not much salt in the soup'

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

This tame fare is a long way from the passion plays served up when Liverpool had Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in opposition to Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. 

To use Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's phrase, not much 'salt in the soup' so far.

Turn the radar on

HALF-TIME

Well that was ruddy awful.

Anthony Martial began his United career with a goal against Liverpool but he has seen precious little of the ball so far today. He has a chance to run into Liverpool terriotory as the half draws to an end, which he does well, but his shot from 20 yards is blocked. Into injury time. There'll only be a minute of it.

There's not been a load of attacking play to analyse but when Liverpool have sprung forward they have tended to go down United's left-hand side, with Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and Jordan Henderson all featuring prominently. 

And it wouldn't be a surprise if the Reds continue going down their right flank to test out young United sub Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

Opta

Emre Can has not had a good half. He tries to switch play from left to right but over-hits his pass and it flies ahead of Roberto Firmino and out of play. That pretty much sums the half up.

Get Involved

David Plowright: 1 am kick off in Australia for this game. Need to re-evaluate my life decisions.

Pat Nevin

Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Liverpool are targeting the left-back Darmian. The only time Manchester United have looked vaguely dangerous is from a couple of corner kicks. They are playing well as a group, chasing and tackling, but as for good football? There has been very little of that."

SUBSTITUTION

Nope. Ashley Young is done for the day. United forced into their first change as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson comes on.

Ashley Young is knackered. He is down on the turf after holding his side. I'd be surprised if he can last the rest of this half.

Reuters