Summary

  • Liverpool miss host of chances as Man Utd hold them to goalless draw

  • FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton - Jesus & Havertz send Gunners top of table

  • FT: Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa - Moreno & Watkins score as Villa come from behind to win

  • FT: West Ham 3-0 Wolves - Kudus (2) & Bowen give Hammers comfortable win

  1. Postpublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    That's all from us for today.

    I'll leave you with Phil McNulty's report from Anfield and don't forget you can watch highlights from today's games on MOTD2 at 22:30 GMT on BBC One.

    See you later!

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Andrew: United deserved the point. It’s easy to criticize because expectations will always be higher for a club of their stature, but given how their season has gone, going to Anfield and playing a professional and organized game and coming away with a draw is a big result

    J: I absolutely enjoy watching him, but time is running out for Nunez to find his feet. His Newcastle cameo was supposed to be the start of something, not an anomaly. The only 'chaos' he brings right now is his failure to stay onside.

  3. Christmas fixture schedule is 'horrendous'published at 19:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool

    More from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the title race: "It’s a tough period. We play Wednesday against West Ham, they’re flying and playing really well at the moment, then we have Arsenal and Burnley. It’s horrendous.

    "We have to make sure we get enough points in this period but then there’s a lot of football to play after that too. It’s important we get through this with as many players as possible."

  4. 'We created an incredible atmosphere on the pitch'published at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I've had a few minutes to recover from the disappointment. I’m too long in the this to not understand what happened today with the whole build-up. I prefer them being in a better position so then we can play football.

    "If you play in the Premier League with a team of quality like Man Utd and they just defend then it doesn’t make life easy. We should have scored and that would have changed the dynamic of the game. The chances were big enough so we were unlucky.

    "The style of the game was the best we had, the press we played was the best we had. It was a big game for us and there was a lot of emotion in there. I thought we created an incredible atmosphere on the pitch which led to it being incredible off the pitch. The fans did their part so it’s all good beside the result.

    "It’s just how it is and we can take a lot from this game. We started the game intensely. Today we didn’t have to come back and we were disciplined form the start. This was a real derby and there was everything. It was a good game to watch."

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Michael @ 17:56 I agree about the lack of decent crossers/wingers in the United side (although that kind of tactic seems missing from many modern teams, who prefer playing through the middle), but this unfortunately isn't ETH's style, and besides, we don't have a big, experienced, top centre forward to meet the crosses anymore (aside from Hojlund, who's hardly the finished article). This is why we desperately need an experienced man to give Hojlund support. Rashford just isn't that kind of player.

    Ben

  6. Hojlund's 'not looking comfortable in front of goal'published at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker makes a save against Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester UnitedImage source, EPA

    Hojlund is still looking for that elusive goal. If he'd scored four or five recently then he'd have put that away.

    On the odd occasion when you know the chance is there ,you can try too hard and you tense up. At the moment he's not looking comfortable in front of goal.

    He's not shy of putting himself into those positions though.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Mike: I think a draw is about right but I'm leaning to a United win as they had the better chances. Great performance by Evans today, Salah and co had no answer

    I wonder if I can get my ticket refunded on the premise that that wasn't a football match. First match at Anfield where BOTH teams didn't look like they were bothered.

    Lee, Liverpool fan

  8. 'We want to show we’re up for the fight'published at 19:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Manchester United

    Manchester United captain Scott McTominay, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "The mindset was probably the most important thing and the belief we can come here and do well. That was the main message in the dressing room, to go out there and show some character and help your teammates.

    "We had a couple of chances so there’s positive things to take from the game. We didn’t win so we need to keep building.

    "Whenever big chances come along in a game of this magnitude, you have to take them and neither team did. For us not scoring was unfortunate but we’re delighted with a clean sheet.

    "There is always going to be high intensity from Liverpool and it was good that we limited that to a degree in the first half. It was an open game in terms of the end.

    "Building is the key word. We don’t want to use it a throw away word, we want to genuinely build on this game and show the character and desire. We want to show we’re up for the fight."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Really flat from Liverpool today. Although a cult figure for some, Nunez is simply not good enough. There is a minimum standard required for finishing and positional play - he does not meet it. Gakpo must start these games going forward, or Jota when fit.

    Ben, Leicester

    Depressing for fans of Man Utd, supposedly the biggest club in the world, that they barely had at attack worthy of the word in the game. It might be a point but the stats say that, on another day, it could have been a comprehensive loss.

    Chris

    Never seen so much of a fuss about TAA playing midfield. If he was good enough klopp would start him there week in week out. His last half hour displayed that he's not good enough when it matters.

    Jonny, Hull

  10. 'Liverpool decision making was poor'published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Jamie Carragher
    Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

    Liverpool have got some real quality players on the pitch and some of the decision making was so poor.

    The only thing you can put that down to is frustration, with the fact that they weren't in front or they weren't getting goals and it maybe wasn't as easy as they thought it would be.

  11. 'The quietest crowd I've seen in this game'published at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    The atmosphere was the worst I've seen at Anfield ever for a Liverpool-Manchester United game. I've always been complimentary of Liverpool fans but it's the quietest crowd I've seen in this game.

    I think there was maybe a little bit of overconfidence before the game, with people wearing Christmas jumpers with 7-0 on them and stuff like that!

  12. Landmark attendancepublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Fans take their seats in the new tiers of the Anfield road StandImage source, Getty Images

    The attendance of 57,158 was the biggest for any Liverpool home game since the FA Cup tie against Burnley in February 1963 and the third largest at home in their league history.

  13. 'Surprised by the draw'published at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    I'm surprised it was a draw. I didn't think Manchester United had a clean sheet in them. I didn't think they had a defensive performance like that in them.

    I think Liverpool were below par. They were so scruffy and clumsy in the final third.

  14. 'Football always starts with good defending'published at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on a hard fought point at Anfield: "Every point you take is important. Football is about results and we could have won today if we’d taken our chances.

    "We take this point and we are pleased with the point because Liverpool are in very good form here at Anfield. They always score and we avoided that, we stopped them creating chances and scoring. All eleven on the pitch were very good.

    "Football always starts with good organisation and defending. If I have a criticism, it is that we should have had more passes going into the box to hurt the opponent. That’s the next step we have to make.

    "We have to get more consistent in our performance levels."

  15. 'Our defending was almost perfect'published at 19:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Manchester United

    Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports: "You have to fight always for the badge. We play in very high highs and also sometimes in very low lows. If you want to achieve something in a season you can't be below certain limits so we have to get the consistency.

    "This was a very good performance, you saw Liverpool's results at home and we got a clean sheet. In the second half we had some very good chances, then you can take the points from here but we are pleased with the performance of the team.

    "You know the chance will come and you have to believe that. The team has to never switch off, keep the discipline and you do that you can even win the game.

    "The way we defended it was almost perfect. When we made a mistake there was always a team-mate to sort it out. I think that is the big win from today, we have to keep this and bring this every game.

    "Always you have to fight for each other. At Manchester United it is always the same - we against the rest."

    On Diogo Dalot's two quick yellow cards: "You judge it. I will leave it with you."

  16. 'Van Djik isn't disrespecting United'published at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Daniel Sturridge
    Former Chelsea and Liverpool striker on Sky Sports

    I don't think Virgil van Dijk is disrespecting Manchester United. He's saying 'we're at home, we expected to come here today and try to get a result.'

    I just think he's disappointed that Liverpool didn't go out there today and do what they thought they would be able to do. It didn't work out for them. They tried their best and couldn't break United down.

  17. Lots of shots, little rewardpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool attempted 34 shots in this goalless draw – their most in a Premier League game on record in which they failed to score (since 2003-04).

    Overall, it was the most shots by a team without scoring in a match in the competition since Man Utd's 38 v Burnley in October 2016.

  18. 'We can make something out of this season'published at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to BBC Sport, on what positives there were for his side to take: "There were a lot of aspects, absolutely. I think the performance was very good from our side. The gameplan went well, the players were brilliant how they stuck together and were in the fight.

    "My only criticism would be in possession we could hurt them more, if you get one, two, three passes in. But that's the only thing. If we scored one of the big opportunities we could have won this game.

    "Liverpool is a very good team, a very good attacking team and a lot of movement. You have to defend very disciplined and it is a big compliment to the team how they did - the spirit, and the passion and desire was there."

    "We knew that beforehand that last year we beat them twice but we lost - and it was a big loss. Of course you want to take revenge.

    "We have a good squad, a good team and we can make something out of this season."

  19. "I can't remember this kind of dominance against Man Utd'published at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to MOTD: "The main thing I don't like is the result, we should have won the game.

    "With that number of finishes a few more should have been on target. It should have been more, but there were some things I liked. The counter pressing was the best with this group, the intensity and the start was probably our best so far.

    "This today hurts, it is good, it gives us a lot of information as well and now we have to finish the situations off.

    "Some situations were where we shot from distance when there was probably a player in a better position. It is okay, you need one goal and everything would be right.

    "I can't remember this kind of dominance against Manchester United as we did today. It was special, the atmosphere was special.

    "We had moments where we looked like we were in a rush. We played a few long balls a bit too much.

    "In possession, when we built with three, they had no solution. We should have maybe used underlaps and overlaps more but when you arrive the box is full.

    "From a passion point of view Manchester United played a fantastic game, they put everything into it. When a team plays with this much passion you have to break the rhythm.

    "The attitude today was top, top, top. I wish we would have won but we have a point more and that is okay."

  20. 'Van Dijk arrogant'published at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2023

    FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd

    Roy Keane
    Former Manchester United midfielder on Sky Sports

    Virgil van Dijk had arrogance coming out of him, dishing Manchester United like that. He needs a reminder himself. He's playing for a club who have won one title in 30 odd years.

    He's saying only one team wanted to win and that United are buzzing with a point. United are in a difficult place, like Liverpool have been in a difficult place for many a year.

    So maybe that bit of arrogance backfired on him today.