Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool: 5 Talking Points, Premier League 2018-19

You might as well have had an ambulance at the ready in the first half at Old Trafford. No less than four substitutions were made. And there were a couple of players on the pitch who were walking wounded.

In the end though, it was a game bereft of quality, and Liverpool dropped two more points, even as they went top of the table. Their lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League is now as slim as it could be. Well, it quite literally is - one point.

Manchester United dropped down a spot, to 5th, as Arsenal leapfrogged them following their win over Southampton.

Here are the major points of discussion from the game.

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#5 The Theatre of the wounded

First, Marcus Rashford pulled up, after Jordan Henderson caught him in the ankle. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United were focusing their attention on the health of their X-Factor, they had to quickly shift to the hamstrings of their two Spaniards - as Ander Herrera and Juan Mata pulled up.

Solskjaer brought on Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard, but his peace was to live for a very short period of time. Lingard pulled up with his hamstring again, as it looked obvious that he was nowhere near full fitness following the injury he picked up against PSG.

Alexis Sanchez came on to replace Lingard, as Solskjaer was forced to use all his changes before the half-time whistle.

For good measure, the injury Gods ensured that United didn't really feel left out. Roberto Firmino rolled his ankle midway through the half, and Jurgen Klopp was forced to bring on Daniel Sturridge as the replacement.

As a result, there was never really any possibility for either side to build a sustained head of steam in the first half. It was far too stop-start, and that could not have been of help to either of the sides.

One could also talk about Solskjaer's lack of experience in this case, as he took a humongous risk by bringing on Lingard. Before the game, the Norwegian himself admitted there was no way that Lingard was ready to play the 90 minutes, yet he brought him on with 65 minutes to play.

There was an option for Solskjaer to replace Mata with Alexis, who eventually came on to replace Lingard. On reflection, the United manager might think that he got that one wrong, and in the bigger picture, he should be concerned about how much longer he loses Lingard for.

#4 Mo Salah's absence in another big game

Mo Salah had another disappointing outing at Old Trafford

There have been only two "big" games this season that Mo Salah has scored in - the home game against Napoli in the Champions League, and against Arsenal in the Premier League. The goal against Arsenal was a penalty, mind you.

So, is there something that should concern Jurgen Klopp? Surely, it must, right? His talismanic goalscorer is just not coming up with the goods in the games that matter.

He has been shuttled between being the central striker and the right winger this season, but in this game, Salah could never really get the better of Luke Shaw, even though he found himself isolated with the Manchester United left-back on a fair few occasions.

It's clear that Salah doesn't exactly enjoy playing against teams that sit deep in a low block, as it deprives him of the ability to run in behind and use his pace in the space. His dribbling was nothing short of dreadful in this game, and he wasn't any better in any of the other aspects either.

Sure, it didn't help him that Firmino went off, depriving him of the telepathic understanding that he thrives on, but Salah didn't help himself, as he failed to get the basics right.

Salah's overall record this season still is stellar, but the longer this patchy run against the big sides goes on, the more glaring the concern will be for Jurgen Klopp.

#3 Both teams were abject in the final third

Daniel Sturridge didn't offer much after coming on to replace Roberto Firmino

At least Manchester United tried to get the ball in the final third, and create chances. Liverpool were pedestrian. They meandered along. Their midfield was too passive, the front three took too many touches on the ball, when they should've released it earlier to other players in better positions.

Liverpool's most available attacking outlet at all times during the game, was James Milner bombing forward from right-back, but the usually ever-so-reliable Englishman's touch just deserted him all game. He didn't get one good cross in from open play, and from the many corners that Liverpool had, he had only one good delivery of note, with Joel Matip putting his header well above David de Gea's net at the Stretford End.

For United, this was to be expected, given that there was so much in-game chopping and changing that went on mid-game. Their rhythm was bound to be affected.

The problem for them was not so much the quality of balls into the box, as it was the timing of their runs. In a quickfire string of second-half minutes, Ashley Young and Luke Shaw whipped in a string of delicious free-kicks, but on each occasion, a promising United position was cut short by the assistant referee's flag.

Joel Matip had even put through his own net, but to his joy, Chris Smalling was pulled up for straying just a fraction too early.

#2 Jurgen Klopp's substitutions were all wrong

Some part of the blame will have to fall on Klopp

Why Sturridge, when Firmino had to be taken off? With all due respect to the ability and the skill that Sturridge possesses, he's barely played any football recently, with no first-team minutes since the 7th of January.

To throw him into the cauldron of Manchester United v Liverpool in that kind of situation was just a little bit daft. There was the option of putting on Naby Keita or Xherdan Shaqiri, as well.

And then, when it was obvious that Milner wasn't having a very good game, Jurgen Klopp should have taken the gamble and put on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could have produced a lot more, if he had gotten into the same positions that Milner did. He would've been allowed to - if Milner's old legs could bomb up and down, and keep finding that much space, Alexander-Arnold would've been a handful as well.

With the game meandering along, and absolutely nothing coming from midfield, it was baffling that Klopp chose to give Naby Keita a grand total of ZERO minutes of football. Yes, the Guinean hasn't yet been all that was promised after his move from RB Leipzig, but he has shown in recent weeks, that he can provide the necessary drive from midfield.

Neither Divock Origi nor Sturridge really made the necessary impact, and maybe that's where the title could be lost for Liverpool. Where their rivals can bring on Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez, Liverpool's fall in quality from their starters to the reserves is a little too drastic.

#1 The top end of the Premier League spices up

Klopp and Solskjaer know they have a big fight on their hands from now to May

Liverpool are now a point ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. United are now a point behind Arsenal, who are fourth.

Tottenham Hotspur would still believe that they've got a say in this whole thing at the top of the Premier League. With 11 games to go, and a six-point deficit to make up, you'd think Tottenham's role in the title race will be insignificant, but Spurs still have to play both Liverpool and City, and should the Lilywhites win both those games, then it could all become mighty interesting at the top.

Liverpool, for their part, just need to keep winning. They had afforded themselves the luxury of being able to drop a few points while still remaining at the summit, with their performances over the Christmas period. Now, they've exhausted their luxury. Now they have to win all their games, to still have their fate in their own hands.

For United, it's pretty much the same. With Chelsea, Arsenal and themselves fighting for one spot, it is going to be a tight battle. Solskjaer will be hoping that this current injury crisis doesn't come back to bite them in the backside when the final reading of the table is made, but United have been pushed to a wall.