So what Paul Pogba emoji would best suit this performance? Is there a face palm, a red with embarrassment, a wide-eyed shock? Any, or all would have been appropriate. On the day Pogba's latest commercial gimmick was launched, Manchester United's most expensive player gifted the draw to Liverpool.
His hapless handball changed this game, conceding a penalty, converted by James Milner. It could have been worse. Pogba was also caught in possession to inadvertently give Liverpool their best chance of the second half, too, when Emre Can's cross was headed over by Georginio Wijnaldum.
In the end, it required the 84th minute intervention of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to give Manchester United the point they deserved, although the goal was probably celebrated as wildly in west London. Nothing like watching rivals inflict two-point deductions on each other to cheer up a club chasing the title.
Pogba's blunders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng-yx45Bykc
The draw was a fair result, for Liverpool's tenacity, and United's thrilling chasing of equality. Finally, they got the goal their energy merited.
Wayne Rooney chipped a ball to Marouane Fellaini, whose header hit the far post. It was recycled by Antonio Valencia and this time Ibrahimovic did not miss, arching his torso to send it in off the crossbar. Old Trafford erupted, so did Jose Mourinho and Ibrahimovic, imploring them for more noise and intensity.
It certainly could be found on the touchline where Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp had to be kept apart after a minor disagreement. They had made up by the end, though.
Both groups of fans left happy but, it must be said, this was a better result for Liverpool. Yes, they lost ground on Chelsea – now seven points adrift – but a point away at Manchester United always feels like more of a victory, even if the disappointment at the late goal will be huge.
As for United, they failed an important test. Their recent run has been outstanding but, victory over Tottenham aside, the opponents have been from outside the elite band.
Two of the games played against title chasers at home in that spell – Arsenal and Liverpool – have ended in draws. Mourinho wondered how Liverpool would fare against a big team. The same could be asked of his men.
Like many clashes between these teams, it took a while to get going. A lot of thud and blunder, not much coherent football. Once the play settled down it was Manchester United who were the first to show a glimmer of recent form.
What Twitter said about Pogba
https://twitter.com/search?q=Pogba&src=tren
Anthony Martial has been more impressive since Jose Mourinho made plain his expectations and he was posing problems for Trent Alexander-Arnold on his full Premier League debut.
It was Martial's cross after 14 minutes that came close to putting Zlatan Ibrahimovic in at the far post. Unfortunately, even the daily yoga sessions couldn't sufficiently help Ibrahmovic in bringing the slightly overcooked pass under control.
Better accuracy and United could have taken the lead. The Swede had completely lost his marker. Soon after, Liverpool almost let Ibrahimovic in again, an underhit back pass from Dejan Lovren sparking panic, and kept out only by the quick-thinking of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
He charged from his loan and smashed the ball against the shin of the advancing Ibrahimovic, looking up in hope as it ricocheted over his head, landing on the roof of the net.
In the 19th minute, Henrik Mkhitaryan played a lovely through ball to Paul Pogba, delaying his arrival as third man into the box. It fell sweetly for the Frenchman, who steered it wide of the far post. It was a good chance; but if only that was his biggest mistake of the first half.
Slowly, however, Liverpool grew into the game, their high press growing in effect and forcing Manchester United into errors. Phil Jones was caught horribly in possession by Roberto Firmino on the edge of the area, only to be rescued by his central defensive partner Marcos Rojo. And then calamity struck.
It was a brave call by referee Michael Oliver, but the right one. Pogba had completely lost his bearings trying to jump for a deep corner with Lovren, lost track of the ball and his relation to it, meaning it dropped on his arm in mid-air.
James Milner – a popular lad around these parts having also played for Leeds United and Manchester City – stepped up to take it, and converted with tremendous verve, David de Gea going the right way, but unable to save. What happens to English players in shoot outs at tournaments, heaven knows.
The Liverpool goal brought an instant reaction and, before half-time, Mignolet was called upon to make two good saves. No, scratch that, a good save and another that was quite brilliant. It came after Divock Origi had brought down Ander Herrera on the edge of the penalty area.
Ibrahimovic, who else, stood over it and surprised everyone by firing low through the wall. It was on Mignolet's side, but he saw it late, yet got down to it and with enough strength to push it away.
Soon after, Herrera played Mkhitaryan through one on one, but Mignolet was again the match. Jose Mourinho upped the ante by introducing Wayne Rooney for the misfiring Michael Carrick at half-time, but Liverpool came closest early in the second half.
Origi's work-rate had been more significant than his goal threat until that point, but he curled one that took a small deflection and flew just wide. It was his last significant involvement of the match, replaced by Philippe Coutinho after 60 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BBC Sport, said:
"A lot of people before the game would have thought we would get a knock today because United look like a rolling beetle and everything goes in their direction. We know about our problems and situations so seeing a performance like today was nice.
"We needed to be brave, we created the spaces we wanted, we scored the goal. In the end period of the game when United started playing long balls – Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – after 80 minutes high intense football it is really hard. I hoped we would have a bit of luck, unfortunately not but all good. Tomorrow I can enjoy the result, but tonight only the performance.
"It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action in the last few minutes. We were here to win the game which is why we we are not 100% satisfied."
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BBC Sport, said:
"Very exciting, even for the non-neutral – for Liverpool fans and our fans they were enthusiastic until the last seconds. I didn't think the game had super quality. We didn't reflect the qualities we have and Liverpool have but it was very emotional, intense, aggressive. We fought until the last second.
"They were clever. They took their time, they know how to play football and control the emotions of the game. They knew they would be in trouble in the final few minutes.
"We were the team that attacked and Liverpool were the team that defended. Let's see if the critics are fair. I enjoyed it but I will obviously be disappointed we didn't get the three points."