All eyes were on Anfield for what was billed as a blockbuster affair between two bitter rivals, and despite all the hype and it's own unique yet cringy hashtag, #REDMONDAY did not excite those watching in the first 45 minutes.
And the second 45 was very similar. Aside from a great chance for Ibrahimovic, and two outstanding saves from David De Gea, those who tuned in to the big match were left disappointed.
United will be happier with the point, but really it was a poor game that made for some rather difficult player ratings. We've had a go nonetheless, and here they are:
LIVERPOOL
Loris Karius - 5
Enjoyed - or tried to enjoy - a pleasant evening with a pitchside view of Liverpool v United. Presume he had time to write some emails during the endless patches where United defended.
Nathanial Clyne - 6
Defensively solid but perhaps a victim of the matches overall turgid quality. First half average positioning shows how little counterattacking Liverpool were allowed to do.
Average positions... Sturridge really isolated #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/CWufqZdb26
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) October 17, 2016
Joel Matip - 6
Quietly effective in the heart of Liverpool's defense. Continues to win the affection of Liverpool fans.
Matip dont get much praise but his positioning is awesome. Very clever CB
— bateson87 (@bateson87) October 17, 2016
Dejan Lovren - 6
Solid performance though little was asked of him. A Liverpool clean sheet is still nothing to sneer about.
James Milner - 6
Summed up the existential despair of the first half with brief nap after RASHford tackle. Had one gorgeous bit of defending in the first half
Everyone watching the first half of #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/zSDt20G0oV
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 17, 2016
Jordan Henderson -6
Sat very deep in front of Matip and Lovren and the debate over his abilities rolls on. Continues to create banter however. Deep backpass to Matip in the 92 minute with Liverpool fans urging him on says just about everything about this match.
Emre Can - 5
First half performance had all kinds of Twitter accounts hurling 'Emre Can't' jibes. Perhaps no one summed up Liverpool 'second gear' performance than Can. Burly and bungling, although deft shot nearly caught de Gea out.
Phillipe Coutinho - 7
Asked to drop deep and provide be Liverpool's creative sparkplug. Tried ably but his best efforts were consistently repelled by the blue wall. Beautiful 71st minute curler nearly put Liverpool up 1-0. Erotic backheel wonderfully set up Firmino.
Roberto Firmino - 6
Largely anonymous. Owed to his Brazilian comrade to bury the sumptuous second half backheel. Instead Valencia came off as the best defender in the world.
Sadio Mane - 6
Seemed to suffer most from the absences of Lallana and Wijnaldum. The shackles were on Liverpool this evening and Mane has no space to maraude.
Daniel Sturridge - 5
Was he even there? Isolated throughout the first half. Touch was clumsy when Coutinho and Mane tried to service him. Stats - 0 chances created, 0 take-ons, 0 shots - tell the whole story. Hauled off after 58 minutes.
SUBS:
Adam Lallana - 6
Like a Dr Frankenstein with terrible tattoos and a regrettable haircut, Lallana brought life to this corpse of a match when brought off the bench.
Divock Origi (for Firmino) - 6
Klopp had hoped he'd run out United's defense. He ran, but it had no effect.
Alberto Moreno (for Milner) 5
Lost a mark for his hair.
Manchester United
David De Gea - 7
Did everything asked of him, and more in keeping that Coutinho shot out of the top-corner. He is a reminder to Liverpool fans, although they wouldn't need it, of the difference a truly top keeper can make.
Antonio Valencia - 7
A very solid performance capped by a goal-saving tackle on Roberto Firmino. Valencia continues to improve as a defender and is now a very capable right-back, something United fans would never have expected to say.
Eric Bailly - 6
Slighly crazy at times, but ultimately solid. Sounds like a general review of him as a player but fits for tonight as well.
Eric Bailly is 22. What a signing this guy could turn out to be for many, many years to come. Potential is off the scale.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) October 17, 2016
Chris Smalling - 6
Solid, nothing more, nothing less. Important for United defence to have him back.
Daley Blind - 6
A lot of complaining about fouls, a lot of clearing the ball down the channels, some decent defending in particular when Clyne got forward, the Dutchman is a good utility player for Mourinho.
Maroune Fellaini - 6
A good showing for the big Fella, who did exactly what was asked of him in breaking up play and being a general pain in the arse.
Ander Herrera - 8
Played like a captain, played like he cared, played well. This is what Manchester United fans want to see in games like this, and he absolutely should be the first midfielder picked in nearly all games going forward.
Ander Herrera: Made more tackles and interceptions combined (18) vs Liverpool than any other player has in a Premier League match this term
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 17, 2016
Paul Pogba - 6
Poor again, Pogba just allowed the game to drift by for the most part. He didn't have much service, but he made very little happen apart from putting a goal on a plate for Zlatan with an incredible cross that upped his rating from 5 to 6 alone.
Ashley Young - 6
Put a shift in, but his presence was a sign that United wanted the discipled structure rather than go for the win.
Marcus Rashford - 6
Looked a threat early on but faded before being subbed eventually.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 5
A poor game for Zlatan who had more fouls than constructive touches on the ball. Missed a glorious chance for the winner.
Utd need more from Ibrahimovic in these games.
— Pilib de Brún (@Malachians) October 17, 2016
SUBS:
Wayne Rooney - 5
Showed very little other than the fact that he struggles to control a football these days.
Luke Shaw - 5
Kicked the ball twice, poorly both times, can't give him anything other than a 5 for 30 seconds work.
