Liverpool were lucky to escape with a point after being “outworked” by Manchester United, according to the Super Sunday panel.
Jurgen Klopp’s side saw their lead at the top of the Premier League table trimmed to six points after having to come from behind to draw 1-1 with United at Old Trafford.
United dragged the league leaders into a scrap by playing with an intensity so often lacking this season, and Graeme Souness admitted his former side were fortunate to come away with a point.
He told Sky Sports: “I thought Liverpool got away with it today, but you have to give credit to Manchester United as during that first half, they worked their socks off. They didn’t allow Liverpool to get into the game at all.
“Their midfield is known for their work-rate but they were outworked and bossed in there today. Overall, I think the result is fair if you examine the stats with 68 per cent possession.
“But United will take a lot from it. They turned up today – they looked organised and they did carry a threat.
“Salah was out and Manchester United did a good job on their full-backs, except for the goal. But Liverpool have certainly got away with one today as a lot of their players didn’t turn up.
“Liverpool have a midfield that will outwork anyone, but they got outworked in the first half which is very unusual.
“When they get to the last third, they haven’t really got any cuteness in the midfield but what they do have is workaholics, with Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum.
“That’s why they huffed and puffed for large periods today as United sat so deep. It’s very harsh to be too critical on the Liverpool midfield.”
While United undoubtedly needed the point more than Liverpool, a win against their fierce rivals and Premier League leaders could have made a major difference to their season.
In the short term, the extra two points would have lifted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to eighth in the table instead of 13th, while a win that few people outside of Old Trafford seriously expected could have been the spark required to kick-start their season and lift morale among the squad and fans.
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