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Attendance: 52,769

Premier League

Oct 17, 2016 at 8pm UK

Liverpool
0-0
Man Utd Manchester United

Jose Mourinho happy to leave Anfield with point

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 17 October 2016

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claims that his side "controlled the game" against Liverpool, despite having just 35% possession across the 90 minutes.

Jose Mourinho has claimed that Manchester United were good value for their point against Liverpool, having "controlled the game" in this evening's goalless draw.

The Red Devils had just 35% possession of the ball in the underwhelming derby clash - their lowest total in a match since such data was first recorded in 2003-04.

A draw also makes this Mourinho's worst start to life at a new club in terms of points after eight games since his time in charge of Uniao de Leiria 14 years ago, but the Portuguese was keen to talk up the importance of stopping Liverpool's winning run.

"It is not the result we wanted but it is a positive result, it is a result that stops a direct opponent getting three points at home so not a bad result," he told BBC Sport. "The game was difficult for both teams but for longer periods it was more difficult for them than us.

"We controlled the game not just tactically but the emotion of the game, that was probably the quietest Anfield I had and I was expecting it to be the other way. We had control of the game - there were two amazing saves by David de Gea it's true but they were out of context. The reaction from their crowd was permanent disappointment. People expected us to come here and be really in trouble, which we were not.

"The team was always comfortable, we lacked a little bit of sharpness in more attacking positions. There was a moment I thought about playing [Marcus] Rashford in the [Paul] Pogba position behind Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] but then the kid had cramps. This is a point that stopped them winning three. Other candidates for the title have easier fixtures at moment and it is important to keep close to them - our opportunity to get five wins in a row will come."

United and Liverpool had only played out one previous goalless draw prior to tonight in the Premier League, which came in September 2005.