Liverpool and Manchester United have played a dull goalless draw at Anfield in a much-hyped Premier League fixture.
Far from being "Red Monday", it proved to be rather grey. The result means Liverpool failed to go level on points with Manchester and Arsenal, remaining two points behind the leaders. They stay fourth.
Meanwhile, United remain seventh, five points off the top.
After a scrappy opener which saw neither side being capable to keep possession for long, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a crack at goal from a free-kick on six minutes but ballooned his effort over the bar.
The game failed to settle down in the first 15 minutes with both sides guilty of gifting the ball back to the opposition.
In a decidedly poor first half of few real chances, Firmino did force a comfortable save from David De Gea on 29 minutes with a header across goal after being picked out at the far post from a free-kick.
It was as good as it got in a poor first-half which would have suited Jose Mourinho's away side more than Jurgen Klopp's in-form team.
Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) hits a free kick towards goal during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture by Peter Byrne PA Wire/Press Association Images
The second half began in the same vein, although it was an improvement on the first - which wouldn't have been too difficult, mind you.
But United had the first major chance with a great ball in from Paul Pogba towards the on-rushing Ibrahimovic at the far post.
However the striker could not direct his header towards the target, instead skewing his effort across the six yard box.
De Gea then made an excellent save down to his right to keep out Emre Can's low shot after the Liverpool midfielder had bustled his way into the box.
He was forced into an even more impressive save as Philippe Coutinho attempted to curl an effort in from his favoured left-of-centre zone outside the box, with the goalkeeper tipping it around the post.
With seven minutes to go, Antonio Valencia made an excellent last ditch tackle to prevent Roberto Firmino from firing on goal as he raced clear.
But in the end, onlookers and TV viewers were put out of their misery as the final whistle blew on a forgettable game.
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