David de Gea Deserves Credit for Rescuing a Point for Manchester United

Despite having the most expensive squad in football, Manchester United came to Anfield looking for a draw. As frustrating as that made the game to watch for Liverpool fans and neutrals alike, goalkeeper Loris Karius says it shows United were afraid of Liverpool and so should be taken as a compliment.

“We knew we would have to be patient because it was going to be tough,” Karius said following the match. “United maybe waited for the one chance to get a goal. It was obvious their priority was to stop our play, our attacks. They know we’re a really strong team so that’s a compliment for us.”

As disappointing as the night was for Liverpool, that would certainly seem like a silver lining to take into the coming week—and into Saturday’s match against West Bromwich Albion, a side down the table from them that many will expect to set up to frustrate Liverpool just as Manchester United did.

Despite Jose Mourinho’s tactics and that United have the most expensive squad in football, only one side had the chances to win Monday night’s game, as Liverpool forced two world class stops out of United goalkeeper David de Gea. And West Brom don’t have de Gea. Or the most expensive squad in football.

“Credit to him because it was impressive,” Karius noted of his opposite number and the man who prevented Liverpool from sending United back to Manchester with nothing to show for their defensive performance. “He’s enjoyed great development and you can just see he gets better and better.”