Man United got point they came for: Klopp

Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (L) vies with Manchester United’s English defender Phil Jones during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 14, 2017. PHOTO | AFP  

London. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Manchester United got the point they came for at Anfield yesterday after a dour 0-0 Premier League draw.

Free-scoring United came into the match second behind Manchester City at the top of the league only on goal difference but Jose Mourinho set out his team to frustrate the home side’s attackers and had only one shot on target.

“Manchester United came here for a point and got it,” said Klopp, whose side went close either side of half-time through Joel Matip and Emre Can.

“For sure you could not play this way at Liverpool but it’s OK for Manchester United,” he added.

Mourinho said his team had good control in the first half.

“The opposition was good today, but we played our game,” said Mourinho. “In the first half we had a couple of very good chances and good control of the game.

“In the second half (Nemanja) Matic tired and I had no solutions on the bench. I tried with my substitutions to make us more dynamic in attack, but in reality we lost power and energy and control in midfield.”

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have now won just once in eight matches, but this was a brighter showing on a warm Merseyside afternoon.

The second successive goalless draw between the teams at Anfield preserved United’s seven-point advantage over Liverpool in the table.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace finally scored their first Premier League goal this season as Yohan Cabaye put them ahead against champions Chelsea yesterday.

Palace had failed to score a single goal as they lost their first seven league games, but Roy Hodgson’s side gave their fans something to celebrate in the 11th minute at Selhurst Park.

Palace midfielder Cabaye met Andros Townsend’s cross and when David Luiz made a block, the ball deflected off Cabaye and then Cesar Azpilicueta on its way into the net.

It was the first time Palace had scored in the league since they hit four against Hull in May.

Since then they had seen Sam Allardyce quit as manager before his successor Frank de Boer was sacked earlier this season to make way for Hodgson. Palace’s only other goals had come in the League Cup against Ipswich and Huddersfield, with their dismal league run the worst ever start to an English top-flight season.(AFP)