In a game not a million miles off the debacle that was #RedMonday - two goals being the key difference - Liverpool departed Old Trafford with a point having led Manchester United for the majority of the game.
A James Milner penalty after a Paul Pogba clusterfuck was eventually cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but both sides generally cancelled each other out in a tense if somewhat uninspiring affair.
The result leaves United five points off their rivals in sixth position, and sees Liverpool move to third, ahead of Arsenal.
Here are the player ratings from United-Liverpool:
Manchester United
David De Gea: 6
Couldn't have done much with Milner's penalty, only had one other save of note to make.
Antonio Valencia: 7
Provided rare escapes down the wing while his teammates were pressed high up the pitch. Did well not to succumb to the temptation to wallop the ball back across goal after Fellaini hit the post, instead guiding it onto Ibrahimovic's head.
Phil Jones: 7
Early error could have cost United a goal, but Jones grew into the game as it progressed. By the end, he was again a commanding presence in United's box, and made a number of key interventions.
Marcos Rojo: 6
Nervy early but picked up the pieces after Jones was caught in possession. Despite consistently decent displays of late, you still feel he's only moments away from a calamity.
Matteo Darmian: 7
Didn't do much wrong, and so by default quietly became one of United's better performers.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 4.5
Botched two great opportunities and was wholly ineffective bar a nice ball for Paul Pogba early in the first half.
Michael Carrick: 5
Off-colour, and off at half-time.
Ander Herrera: 4
Typical busy self but his passing deteriorated drastically in the second half. By a distance his worst United display.
Paul Pogba: 2
Astonishingly bad. Was disastrous for Liverpool's first four set-pieces from threatening areas, conceding a penalty through sheer defensive incompetence. After 31 minutes, Gary Neville claimed Pogba's head was gone. Despite a run of outstanding displays of late, he never truly recovered.
Anthony Martial: 6.5
Looked most likely to make something happen for United but his passing was occasionally loose. Replaced by Mata on 65 minutes - seemed a curious decision given United's lack of pace and movement.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 6.5
Zlatananonymous until the death. The all-important equaliser was a sublime and composed headed finish.
Substitutes
Wayne Rooney: 3.5
Incredibly poor. Constantly caught in possession, and became the Rooney that United fans despise; the one at whose feet all promising moves break down. Did well, however, for United's equaliser with a nice cross for Fellaini.
Juan Mata: 4
Didn't contribute much, and United were far too static for him to become effective. Unusually wasteful.
Marouane Fellaini: 6.5
Actually decent. Very unfortunate not to equalise himself - this just moments before a decent burst through the middle which again broke down with the appalling Rooney.
The season's second Liverpool-Manchester United match was certainly an improvement on the first meeting between the sides this year, but it was hardly a classic. Here's how we assessed the players after a result that will suit neither team.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet - 8
Liverpool's best player today. Very slow off the line on 19th minute back pass from Lovren that nearly gifted United with the game's first goal but redeemed himself stopping Zlatan on that 32nd minute shot from the edge of the penalty box, and later Mkhitaryan. Couldn't do much to stop Zlatan's inspired equaliser.
Mignolet made the Mkhitaryan chance look simpler because he won the game of chicken. Stood up, stayed forward, didn't blink #MNULIV
— David Preece (@davidpreece12) January 15, 2017
Good game for Simon Mignolet. That should be noted.
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) January 15, 2017
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6
Klopp's diamond formation mounted pressure on the 18-year-old, who made his debut after Nathaniel Clyne picked up a knock. Started decently despite pressure from Martial but positional immaturity helped set up Pogba's gilt-edged chance just before the 20 minute mark. Didn't seem out of his depth.
Dejan Lovren - 7.5
Was already making himself a nuisance at set pieces before the moronic Pogba handball that lead to the first penalty. First half yellow card was an injustice, as well. The rock in Liverpool's defence.
Ragnar Klavan - 5.5
Absolutely dire pass towards the end of the first half summed up a decidedly average performance from the Estonian. Liverpool got the draw in spite of Klavan.
James Milner - 6
Peerless at penalty-taking though he paid the price in the second half by finding himself on the receiving end of a thoroughly ugly Wayne Rooney tackle. Now has most penalties scored in the 'Prem'.
Jordan Henderson - 7
Much of the prematch talk centred on how much Liverpool depended on Henderson. He survived the Pogba rear naked chokehold in the penalty box and lived to tell. A welcome return for Liverpool.
When you try dab but catch Jordan Henderson #Pogba pic.twitter.com/A4CPULumoF
— LFC🔴Hub (@LiverpoolHub_) January 15, 2017
Emre Can - 6
Social media would have you believe that Can was comfortably Liverpool's worst player, but he was a disruptive force throughout the 90 minutes. Lumbering, in the best possible meaning of the word, even if he still can't pass.
Giorgio Wijnaldum - 5.5
Wasted an absolutely glorious chance in second half injury time, leading to a deduction of one point from his player rating. Does he have the quality to star in a league-winning side?
90+2: That was the chance. Firmino slides in Wijnaldum but his shot is straight at De Gea!
[1-1] #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/DRJ1kwABAb— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 15, 2017
Adam Lallana- 6
A Sky prematch graphic bunched Lallana in with Zlatan, Pogba and Firmino as the 'elites' on show today. Not quite. Last touch let him down regularly this evening. Lacked that bit of class that Liverpool needed to steal this.
Roberto Firmino - 7
A blunderbuss throughout, harrying and annoying the life out of Jones and Rojo. Got caught up in a minor fracas late on with Herrera but was Liverpool's best attacking player over the 90 minutes.
Divock Origi - 6
Industrious shift for the Belgian over 60 minutes. No flashy moments, but vital to the Liverpool attack.
Subs
Philippe Coutinho (60 min) - 7.5
Made an immediate impact with deft pass to Firmino. Brought an element of magic that'd been sorely missing from the Liverpool lineup the last six weeks.
