Battling Man Utd hold Liverpool, Arsenal top Premier League as Villa snatch late win

LONDON: Manchester United ended Liverpool’s perfect record at Anfield on Sunday, holding the Premier League title chasers to a 0-0 draw after wins for Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Jurgen Klopp’s men came into the match widely expected to inflict yet more agony on their bitter rivals and boasting 11 wins from 11 games in all competitions at home this season.
Liverpool dominated, hogging nearly 70 percent of possession and had 34 shots to United’s six but they could not break down their stubborn opponents.
Klopp’s men finish the day second in the table, a point behind Arsenal’s tally of 39 after the Gunners earlier beat Brighton 2-0.
The result was a moral victory for beleaguered United manager Erik ten Hag, whose team last season suffered a 7-0 drubbing at Anfield and came into the match with 12 defeats in 24 games in the current campaign.
United were missing suspended captain Bruno Fernandes while out-of-form Marcus Rashford was once again on the bench.
But they dug deep and stopped their slide after a heavy home defeat against Bournemouth last week and a tame Champions League exit in midweek.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana reacted sharply to keep out a close-range Virgil van Dijk header in the first half and the visitors could even have won the game, but Rasmus Hojlund’s shot was blocked at the near post by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Van Dijk said Liverpool were frustrated by the result, believing they were “superior in all aspects.”
“If you see how we played the game, we had most of the ball and created some opportunities,” he told Sky Sports. “There was only one team trying to win the game.
“We want to win every game of course and that is why it is frustrating.