Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0: Jose Mourinho kills the razzmatazz by parking the bus to prove a point

                   

This was vintage Jose Mourinho. Mourinho the spoiler; Mourinho the party pooper; Mourinho the man who refused to be a “clown” in Liverpool’s “circus”. Again. The man who could kill the razzmatazz and the hoopla, chuck his own custard pies, park his bus, and quieten the atmosphere in what can be the most intense of cauldrons.

In the past he would have done that and come away with three points - to add salt to the wounds - and not just one, as he earned here, but one will do for now. He gained a point by making a point and the frustration and disappointment at the end belonged to those in Liverpool red.

Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, did not deny that because he also probably hoped that victory would have given him another special Anfield night under the floodlights and a showcase to catapult his team beyond just being in the Champions League places and into genuine title contention; to really believe.

Two years ago Mourinho arrived at Anfield as Chelsea manager and derailed what was then building to be a Premier League title procession for Liverpool and how he relishing such a role. Chelsea won; Mourinho later came out with his clown line and so much has happened since. He has delivered another title himself, at Chelsea before that implosion, and although he forcefully argued that this draw kept his team in the race – and they are – Manchester United will have to improve on this.

Indeed 14 points from eight games is Mourinho’s worst start with a new club for him since 2001 with United still in seventh place with a lot of money spent and some of it appearing wasted. So they settled for appearing to be a work in progress with Mourinho the manager doing just that – managing it – while the suspicion remains that had Klopp not been denied some crucial players through injury, Georginio Wijnaldum was sorely missed and Adam Lallana was not fully fit but still made an impact from the bench, then they would have won.

Even then United were indebted to David De Gea who delivered two outstanding second-half saves – the latter of which was a wonderful one-handed stretch to push away Philippe Coutinho’s fulminating, dipping drive from 30 yards that would have beaten a lesser goalkeeper. The Spaniard also reacted sharply to thwart Emre Can, diving low to his right, as the midfielder dug out a shot through a forest of legs from inside the penalty area.

There was so much more fascination in the behaviour of both managers as their tactics unfolded and in the way they tried to take a psychological advantage. Klopp, as is his custom, stood and stared at the United players from the centre-circle, as they warmed up and then took his seat early for the start of the second-half as he clearly indicated that he had torn his team off a strip after the first tentative 45 minutes.

Mourinho, meanwhile, had also come out early – before the game kicked off – in one of those apparently insouciant demonstrations that here was a big manager in a big match showing he was in control. His team responded from the off even if they could not sustain it and even if they did not, really, create any chances.

They pressed high and hard and tried to out-press the impressive pressing of Liverpool who were not allowed to gain the initiative, to whip up their fans. Pogba, as the No10, with Wayne Rooney again benched, for the fourth game in a row, was ordered close to Ibrahimovic and United’s most impressive outfield player Ander Herrera was a bundle of energy as he pushed and prodded.

Liverpool were not helped by the struggles of Daniel Sturridge, restored as centre-forward until Roberto Firmino eventually came inside to replace him, with the England striker substituted taking his league goal drought to 615 frustrating minutes. He never looked like scoring.

There was a header from Firmino – planted straight at De Gea – and Karius reacted well to shovel out a dangerous Marcus Rashford cross which was heading towards Ibrahimovic but the defences were on top with Eric Bailly, at the heart of United’s, particularly impressive. There was plenty of bite but not much damage done.

Inevitably, partly because of the effort they exerted, partly because Liverpool had to eventual take some control, United sat deeper and invited the home side on. It was worrying for Mourinho how Pogba faded while Rooney arrived – out wide – with minimal impact. Liverpool’s changes made more of a difference and, finally, the way opened up for Firmino who was played through. Clear on goal he appeared certain to score only for Antonio Valencia to execute an immaculate tackle to deny him. Rightly it ended goalless as the top of the table became even more congested. It is likely to stay like that.