Liverpool vs. Manchester United had all the makings of a record-breaking match.

Liverpool won their first 11 home games in all competitions in 2023-24, scoring at least twice in each game and totaling 35 goals.

Meanwhile, United had just established a Premier League record for the most goals conceded by a Premier League team in a Champions League group stage (15), and their midweek setback against Bayern Munich made it as many losses in 24 games this season (12) as in the entire 2022-23 season (62).

Liverpool had won four of the previous five matches, the last two by 7-0 and 4-0 margins. Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s head coach, downplayed the significance of last season’s annihilation, calling it a “freak result” in which Liverpool scored six second-half goals and seven from eight shots on target.

On Sunday, Liverpool had 34 shots, 16 more than in the April win, but only one big chance and no goals — their most attempts without scoring in a Premier League game since Opta began recording data for individual games in 2003-04 and the most by any team since United’s 38 against Burnley in 2016. “Even at 7-0, they were more involved in the game,” Klopp added.

Liverpool was turned around at the start, forcing them to attack the Kop in the first half, and Liverpool never really turned it on.

“The one thing I don’t like is the result,” Klopp stated. “We should have scored, we had opportunities, we should have had more opportunities, we should have had more clear-cut chances, we were a bit in a rush in moments.”

Here are two examples, from the beginning and conclusion of the game, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo shooting from more than 24 yards out, despite both having a one-on-one option to their right.

“The thing is, we had a few shots from distance,” Klopp stated. “It’s always clear when you score goals from distance like we did against Fulham.” I knew in that time beforehand, there will be a day we ponder where ‘Maybe we should have passed once or twice more’. Today, square balls, we oversaw a handful of overlaps.”

Normally, games with this many shots for one team are played against a fairly low block with no space to play through, but United attempted to press on occasion and Liverpool played through them. Trent Alexander-Arnold takes a pass from Alisson and baits a press from Scott McTominay before finding Wataru Endo.

Endo sprays it wide to Ryan Gravenberch, who pulls wide and finds Mohamed Salah running in the middle — Darwin Nunez and Luis Duiz approach the box but are not in position for an early cross.

Salah, as a left-footer, is well-suited to sliding the pass in for Kostas Tsimikas’ overlap, but instead shoots after a touch. With three United defenders in close proximity, his effort is tame, resulting in an easy save for Andre Onana when Liverpool might have easily produced a cutback opportunity.

Liverpool aggressively pressed United out of a 4-4-2 at goal-kicks, forcing Onana to make chipped passes out wide and allowing Liverpool to reclaim possession in the opposition half. Tsimikas moved to the last line, allowing Luis Diaz to roam the infield.

Liverpool’s possession sequence duration was less than their Premier League average this season: 9.7 seconds and 3.5 passes, compared to a yearly pace of 10.8 seconds and four passes. Given their domination of possession (68%), Liverpool should have had fewer longer-duration sequences, passing the ball around to tire out United before finding a space or a free player.

It felt like the kind of game where they lacked Roberto Firmino’s ability to weave things together in the closing third. Darwin Nunez got eight touches in the first half, which was fewer than Liverpool’s nine corners (their most in the first half of a home league game since 2011). Nunez’s off-the-shoulder and transition forward approach did not fit the game’s rhythm.

Klopp’s first two subs were aggressive, introducing Gakpo and Joe Gomez to play a 4-2-4 from their opening 4-3-3 configuration, with Alexander-Arnold and Endo in No 6 roles. It ended up opening up the game too much, and United quickly found space to play, forcing him to make his next substitutions: midfielders Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott for forwards Nunez and Diaz.

With Alexander-Arnold predominantly moving inside, Gomez was successful in overlapping, which Luke Shaw had not had to defend all game. Alexander-Arnold spots Gomez’s run in behind here.

Gomez brings it back for Salah, who likely did not expect the ball given his speed, as he had to slam on the brakes and ends up with his back to goal, allowing United’s central midfielders, Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat, time to recover.

Salah chooses to shoot once again despite the presence of bodies in the path. That was maybe understandable given that four of Liverpool’s last eight goals in all competitions had come from 18 yards or further out. But, up against an inspired Onana, who made eight saves without conceding for the first time in four years, a more polished attacking approach was required.

Salah has an open pass to Tsimikas or a back-post cross to Diaz here. In the end, Mainoo’s shot is deflected slightly and lands harmlessly in Onana’s hands.

Liverpool’s average shooting distance was 17.9 yards, and they have only had a lower average chance quality (xG per shot) once this season (at home to Everton), while 31 of their 34 shots were classified as ‘unclear’ by Opta.

“With all the intensity you put in, if you then can calm down and see the free player — who was definitely there — we would have scored,” Klopp told the press. “When you score, the dynamic of the game changes: they open up a little bit and take more risks.” Things shift.”

Individual blunders were also out of character, as shown here as Liverpool attacked rapidly from a throw-in in their half. Gravenberch feeds Diaz, who despite having two United defenders within him, tries to cut in and is tackled (red arrow), despite the space being on the outside. Diaz’s byline dribbles won the game against Everton when they played 11 v 10.

Similarly, Liverpool plays through United as Diaz drops to receive from Alexander-Arnold, and Szoboszlai’s run displaces Amrabat, allowing Salah to pass (out of shot).

Salah could play it across the box to Gravenberch or to Nunez at the back post. He chooses to slide a diagonal pass for Szoboszlai’s straight run (red arrow), but he overhits it, resulting in a goal kick.

This season, Liverpool has chased games exceptionally successfully, earning 18 league points from losing positions – six more than any other team. They have also defeated teams despite being reduced to 10, which explains their troubles on Sunday. Fast forwards with individual attacking ability, such as Salah, Nunez, and Diaz, make good transition outlets on the counter-attack and complement their strong press, but struggle in the absence of time and space in established possession.

This performance and outcome did little to dispel the pre-match criticism leveled at Liverpool, who were top of the table heading into the weekend, that they were winning games while not playing especially well and relying on late goals. In fact, they have more Premier League 90th-minute winning goals under Klopp (17) than United did under Alex Ferguson (16).

However, perspective is extremely powerful. Since United last scored at Anfield in December 2018, Liverpool has had three seasons with 90 or more points. Since then, Klopp’s team has reached two Champions League finals, one of which they won, as well as a Premier League title and local (FA Cup, League Cup), continental (UEFA Super Cup), and international (Club World Cup) honors.

This is certainly a team that is always adapting and evolving, especially after failures like Sunday’s game.