8am Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Pogba to 'leave in summer', Declan Rice eyed, Liverpool draw REACTION, Brooks LATEST
PAUL POGBA will leave Manchester United in summer provided an agreement can be reached, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The midfielder came close to netting in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool, but was denied late on by Reds stopper Alisson.
- Liverpool vs Man Utd: 40/1 price boost on a penalty for EITHER team at Anfield
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- Joshua Jones
GOOD MORNING MAN UTD FANS
Manchester United played out a hard fought 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield to stay three points clear of their bitter rivals.
Luke Shaw was the stand-out performer while Fred looked a little off the pace.
Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba both missed huge chances in the second-half to win the game but afterwards Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemed pleased.
Pogba, 27, was asked to play wide on the right in a bid to help null the threat from Liverpool's left flank.
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka kept busy with Sadio Mane, Pogba was tasked with tracking back and covering flying full-back Andrew Robertson.
And, despite often being considered an attacking playmaker, the 2018 World Cup winner excelled.
After the game, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: "I thought Paul was absolutely brilliant today.
"We knew he had to do a job defensively to help us with Robertson.
"And I thought he was excellent and should have got the goal his performance deserved."
However, Solskjaer did suggest Man Utd have plenty of things to 'improve on', including their composure.
United had a couple of gilt-edged chances to steal all three points, only to be denied superbly by Reds stopper Alisson.
Solskjaer continued: "I think we grew in the game and toward the end it was there for us to win.
"We created two massive chances and it was two brilliant saves by the keeper.
"We can play better than this, we can be more composed, we can have the ball more.
"We had to defend really often today… There are a couple of things for us to improve on."
- William Pugh
TOP POG
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on Paul Pogba for his selfless performance on the right wing at Liverpool.
After the game, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: "I thought Paul was absolutely brilliant today.
"We knew he had to do a job defensively to help us with Robertson. And I thought he was excellent and should have got the goal his performance deserved."
However, Solskjaer did suggest Man Utd have plenty of things to 'improve on', including their composure.
Solskjaer continued: "I think we grew in the game and toward the end it was there for us to win. We created two massive chances and it was two brilliant saves by the keeper.
"We can play better than this, we can be more composed, we can have the ball more. We had to defend really often today… There are a couple of things for us to improve on."
- William Pugh
MARCUS RASHFORD – 5
Caught stupidly offside FOUR times in the first half – the most he has ever been caught offside in a Prem game – as United looked to him to capitalise on counter-attack opportunities. Sloppy.
Didn't improve much after the break and was lucky Fred was so ineffective or the lowest rating would have been his. Booked late on for a cynical foul.
Subs
EDINSON CAVANI (replaced Martial) – 6
Worked hard and helped United look more dangerous.MASON GREENWOOD (replaced Fernandes) – NA
Not enough time to make an impact.
- William Pugh
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7 (subbed off 89mins)
Huffed and puffed in the first-half and worked hard defensively as his team had very little of the ball. But did produce the closest moment of the half as he fizzed a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the post.
Livened up a little as the game opened up in the second-half but missed one of the best chances of the afternoon when he shot straight at Alisson from ten yards.
ANTHONY MARTIAL – 6 (subbed off, 60mins)
Couple of flashes of skill before the break but overall uninspiring. Should have held the ball up better to give United a chance to push up from defence.
Taken off on the hour mark having offered little more after half-time.
- William Pugh
SCOTT McTOMINAY – 5
Did little to thwart the early Liverpool onslaught as the hosts danced around him and Fred.
Gradually found his feet and helped spring United on the break towards end of first half.
But will be happy to have come away with a clean sheet on an afternoon of hard work.
PAUL POGBA – 7
Looked a little isolated out wide in the early stages but grew into the game midway through the first 45 as his team got a foothold.
Involved in almost all of the handful of attacks United had after the break.
Missed a HUGE chance with just seven minutes remaining – thundering a half-volley straight at Alisson from just eight yards. Got to score those.
- William Pugh
AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 6
Hardly called on in the first-half as Liverpool focussed most of their attacks down the opposite flank.
Was lucky not to give away a penalty after a lunge on Sadio Mane mid-way through the second period, but a solid display overall.
FRED – 4
Liverpool found it too easy to play around him and midfield partner Scott McTominay in the first-half.
Improved slightly after the break but passing and positioning were no good and always looked half a yard behind everyone else on the pitch.
- William Pugh
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Put his team under pressure with a very sloppy pass after 25 minutes which – luckily for United – came to nothing. Looked shaky and nervous for the rest of the half.
Improved after the break but was outshone by his defensive partner Victor Lindelof.
VICTOR LINDELOF – 8
Made some decisive blocks in the opening stages and looked composed in the face of continued attacks by the hosts.
Much of the same in the second-half and made all his recent critics look a little silly. Close second for man-of-the-match.
- William Pugh
DAVID DE GEA – 7/10
Almost nothing to do in the first-half as United limited Jurgen Klopp's side to one shot on target.
Virtually the same in the second until he saved a long range effort from his friend and international team-mate Thiago.
LUKE SHAW – 9
Didn't give Salah an inch despite continued Liverpool pressure down his flank. Also broke forward with intent when he had the chance.
Laid on an excellent cross for Fernandes with 12 minutes of normal time left.
But the Portuguese saw his effort blocked. Calm and composed for the duration and Shaw deserved his man-of-the-match award.
- William Pugh
SHAWED THINGS UP
Manchester United drew 0-0 with Liverpool in a cagey affair at Anfield.
Luke Shaw was superb at left-back as he kept Mo Salah quiet throughout – but Fred looked off the pace all afternoon.
The first-half was a drab affair as a resolute United limited Liverpool to just one shot on target despite the hosts having 67 per cent possession – most of it in United's half.
It was a slightly more open match after the break as United broke forward more often. They missed the best chances of the game when Bruno Fernandes smashed the ball against Alisson from ten yards after Shaw's excellent cross.
And then Paul Pogba fired a half-volley straight at Alisson from just eight yards out with seven minutes remaining.
And here's what SunSport's William Pugh thought of the Red Devils' individual performances…
- Giacomo Pisa
PEEEEP!
THAT'S FULL TIME!
LIVERPOOL 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED!
- Giacomo Pisa
HALF TIME STATS
Here's a look at the half time stats from Anfield.
Both sides are finding shots on target difficult to come by, with the Red Devils only managing one shot in total in the opening 45 minutes.
- Giacomo Pisa
HALF TIME
The score is 0-0 at the break at Anfield.
Bruno Fernandes has come closest for the Red Devils with a free kick that went wide by only a matter of inches.
- Giacomo Pisa
FIRST HALF STAT
Manchester United's first shot of the game came in the 34th minute – their longest wait from the start of a Premier League game for their first attempt since their previous game at Anfield in January 2020 (40th minute).
- Giacomo Pisa
HONOURS EVEN
Half an hour has passed at Anfield with the score still 0-0.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR LIVE BLOG OF THE GAME
- Giacomo Pisa
PEEEEEP!
WE'RE UNDERWAY AT ANFIELD!
- Giacomo Pisa
KO APPROACHING
Just five minutes to go until the first whistle at Anfield, but. here's one last stat before kick.
Manchester United have won none of their three league games against Liverpool with Ole Gunnar Solskjær as manager (D2 L1).
Red Devils fans will be hoping that run comes to an end today.
- Giacomo Pisa
OLE'S THOUGHTS
This is what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to say on his team selection:
"There's a a game that we think we need the energy of Scott and Fred.
"I thought Nemanja and Paul in midfield last time was incredible.
"This is a different game, we want different options in front of them, so we wanted Paul one step higher up on the pitch and we've just been training this week to get ready for this game, to be prepared."
- Giacomo Pisa
BENCHES
These are the replacements for both sides.
Manchester United:
26 Henderson, 27 Telles, 3 Bailly, 38 Tuanzebe, 8 Mata, 31 Matic, 34 Van de Beek, 7 Cavani 11 Greenwood
Liverpool:
62 Kelleher, 7 Milner, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17 Jones, 18 Minamino, 27 Origi, 46 R. Williams, 47 Phillips, 76 N. Williams
- Giacomo Pisa
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI
Liverpool are without Joel Matip for the game, with Jordan Henderson starting at centre back.
1 Alisson, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 14 Henderson, 3 Fabinho, 26 Robertson, 5 Wijnaldum, 6 Thiago, 23 Shaqiri, 10 Mane, 11 Salah, 9 Firmino
- Giacomo Pisa
MANCHESTER UNITED STARTING XI
Here's how the Red Devils line up for the Anfield clash.
1 De Gea, 2 Lindelof, 5 Maguire, 6 Pogba, 9 Martial, 10 Rashford, 17 Fred, 18 Fernandes, 23 Shaw, 29 Wan-Bissaka, 39 McTominay
- Giacomo Pisa
RED DEVILS IN TOWN
Manchester United have arrived at Anfield ahead of this afternoon's mouthwatering clash with Liverpool.
The game could have massive implications on this season's title race, with team news just over fifteen minutes away!
- Giacomo Pisa
PRE-MATCH STATS
Manchester United are winless in their last four Premier League games against Liverpool (D2 L2), their longest run without a win against their rivals since a run of five between March 2000 and January 2002.
However Liverpool are winless in three Premier League games (D2 L1), and have failed to score in their last two.
This is anyone's game.
- Giacomo Pisa
HANDS-OFF
David Moyes has issued a hands-off warning as Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly eye-up a move for West Ham star Declan Rice.
The 22-year-old has attracted interest from the Premier League giants – but Hammers boss David Moyes has revealed neither have firmed that up with a formal offer.
Moyes said: "They're not true [rumours of a bid], we've had no contact from either of those clubs regarding Declan and we wouldn't want any anyway.
"He's doing great for us, he's a big leader now, he's taken a lot of the weight off Mark Noble. He's turning out to be a really good player but also a really good boy and good around the club."
- Giacomo Pisa
COUNTDOWN TO KO
Just under two-and-a-half hours to go until the mammoth showdown at Anfield between Manchester United and Liverpool.
The Red Devils will stay at the top of the Premier League table if they avoid defeat at the home of their bitter rivals this afternoon.
We'll bring you the team news as soon as it comes out, with the whole of the footballing world keeping a close eye on this one.
- Giacomo Pisa
NEVILLE'S ELEVEN
Gary Neville has named just four Manchester United players in his combined eleven with Liverpool.
Only Harry Maguire, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford made the cut for Neville.
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