Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes that Roberto Firmino’s injury had a major impact on his side as they were held to a goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Brazilian was forced off after half an hour with an ankle injury and replaced by Daniel Sturridge, before being spotted leaving the gorund on crutches after the match. 

He is now likely to miss the title chasers’ next Premier League match against Watford on Wednesday, although the point does see the club move into Premier League top spot. 

Roberto Firmino had to be substituted after 30 minutes due to an ankle injury for Liverpool

‘It was a strange game. We started really well. All the injuries in the game obviously cost us rhythm. It happened to us with ‘Bobby’ and that was a catastrophe. 

‘United played with a completely new midfield and three up front. We lost our rhythm and couldn’t get it back. 

‘On days when United are beatable you have to do it and we didn’t do it. We have a point more and Wednesday is out next game.’ 

Klopp added: ‘It is his ankle. First he said he could carry on, then that he couldn’t. I don’t know exactly the extent of the problem.’ 

The Brazilian received treatment on the pitch after picking up a knock and could not continue

The hosts also suffered severe injury problems, and were forced to use all three substitutions before half time with Anders Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard – who had himself replaced Mata 18 minutes earlier – replaced.

In addition, striker Marcus Rashford suffered an injury to his left foot in the opening stages of the match but had to play on for the whole game. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his side had no luck throughout the game, but praised a staunch performance from his team.

He said: ‘Everything that could have gone wrong in the first half went wrong. We had four injuries – we had to keep Marcus Rashford on – it seemed like it was going to be a tough afternoon. 

‘But I can’t remember Liverpool having a chance. Even though they had possession, I can’t remember David de Gea making a save. ‘

Midfielder Ander Herrera was one of three first-half injuries suffered by Manchester United

Jordan Henderson appeared to snub coach Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Reds were held to a frustrating stalemate against their fierce rivals and that looked to have spilled over when captain Henderson was substituted by Klopp.

In the 72nd minute, Henderson was taken off to be replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri as Liverpool tried to chase a winning goal. 

Jordan Henderson and Jurgen Klopp had a tense touchline stand-off in the second half

Henderson appeared unhappy to be substituted for Xherdan Shaqiri in the 72nd minute

Henderson applauded the away fans and in the process stormed past a confused Klopp

Henderson was recalled by Klopp who appeared to tell him ‘you didn’t shake my hand’

The Liverpool captain and Klopp then did have a tense handshake and exchanged words

The conversation appeared fraught, which was not surprising considering the result

The two separated when Henderson forcefully unclasped his hand to return to the bench

The England international handed over the captain’s armband to James Milner, tapped Shaqiri by the touchline before turning to the away end to applaud the traveling supporters. 

In the process, he stormed past Klopp, who tried to grab him to shake his hand.  

Henderson carried on towards the substitutes bench, brazenly passing the German coach in order to take his seat. Klopp then recalled the midfielder to the technical area and appeared to say ‘you didn’t shake my hand’.

Henderson then did clasp his hand, more words were then exchanged before the tense discussion was ended when the former Sunderland midfielder forcefully removed his hand to make his way back to the bench. 

Liverpool endured a frustrating afternoon at Old Trafford as Manchester United held firm

They were limited to few chances and found the game interrupted by injuries in the first half

Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm in a match that was blighted – especially in the first half – by a spate of injuries.

Manchester United were hardest hit, losing Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and substitute Jesse Lingard in the first half – while Marcus Rashford carried a knock for the full 90 minutes.

Liverpool too weren’t immune to the injury plague and they lost Roberto Firmino in the first period after the Brazilian rolled his ankle.

Liverpool are now a point clear of Manchester City, with both sides having played 27 matches

The visitors never really got going and United seemed the more threatening side; they had a goal ruled out when Joel Matip put the ball into his own net after a Chris Smalling cross – however the defender was offside.

The result means Liverpool are a point clear of Manchester City, with both sides having played 27 matches. 

Celtic are eight points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership following a bad-tempered 4-1 win over Motherwell at Parkhead.

After a slow start by the leaders goals from winger Scott Sinclair and striker Odsonne Edouard had them comfortably ahead by the interval.

An otherwise uneventful match turned sour six minutes after the break when Gboly Ariyibi reduced the deficit with a controversial goal, as the home side thought they were initially getting the ball back from a throw-in.

Odsonne Edouard starred for Celtic with a goal in both halves in victory over Motherwell

Edouard’s double helped Celtic move eight points clear of Rangers in Scottish Premiership

The match continued to the soundtrack of boos from the angry Hoops fans before Edouard curled in a free-kick in the 88th minute to ease the tension, with substitute Oliver Burke adding a fourth.

In ending the Steelmen’s six-game winning run in the league, Brendan Rodgers’ side made it 14 home wins out of 14 in the league to retain their advantage over Old Firm rivals Rangers, who had closed the gap with a 5-0 win at Hamilton earlier in the day.

However, the ramifications from Motherwell’s goal could go on for a while.

The afternoon had started on a positive note.

Scott Sinclair continued his recent fine form by opening the scoring for the Hoops

Celtic fans were delighted to see the return of left-back Kieran Tierney for the first time since December 13, after recovering from a hip injury, and he was handed the captain’s armband in the absence of suspended Scott Brown.

Sinclair, Nir Bitton, Edouard and 18-year-old Ewan Henderson were also handed starts, the latter his first for the Hoops, while James Scott replaced the absent Curtis Main in the Motherwell attack.

Celtic, as usual, made the running in the early stages but the visitors stood firm.

In the 21st minute, Edouard was booked for a challenge on Tom Aldred which saw the Well defender led off with a head injury and he was replaced by Carl McHugh.

The defensive change disrupted Motherwell and Celtic’s struggle ended in the 31st minute when Ryan Christie’s whipped-in cross from the left was met by Sinclair who volleyed in from six yards.

The home side swarmed around the opposition penalty area looking for a second which came six minutes later when Edouard got on the end of a Henderson cross to bullet a header in at the near post.

Gboly Ariyibi’s controversial consolation sparked angry scenes at Parkhead

Motherwell’s goal soon after the interval had the Hoops players and fans in uproar.

Celtic had thought they were getting possession back from Liam Grimshaw’s throw-in after the ball had been put out for Christie’s injury.

However, with Tierney off-guard, Scott raced down the right and when his angled drive was parried by keeper Scott Bain, Ariyibi slid the rebound into the net to spark off a melee.

Players from both sides pushed and shoved amid loud boos which rained down from the stands.

Oliver Burke came off the bench to slam home the fourth goal for Celtic in injury time

Jack Hendry replaced Christie and the ill-feeling continued and when Conor Sammon came on for Scott, the departing Well player was barracked by the home support.

In the 77th minute Well substitute McHugh was carried from the field on a stretcher after a challenge with Edouard and was replaced by Liam Donnelly.

Celtic, imbued with a sense of injustice, finished strongly.

With two minutes remaining Edouard’s free-kick from 25 yards – after he had been fouled by Allan Campbell – crashed in off the bar and then Burke, on for Bitton, slammed in a fourth from 12 yards after taking a James Forrest pass.

Jurgen Klopp took a dig at Merseyside rivals Everton as the Liverpool boss said Marco Silva’s side will treat the upcoming derby like ‘a World Cup final’.

Liverpool are pushing for a first league title since 1990 but Klopp looked to play down talk that any one game, such as ties against Manchester United or Tottenham, are any more important. 

When asked if victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday would be one of the season’s most significant results, Klopp reiterated that his side still have lots of obstacles to face.  

Jurgen Klopp aimed a dig at Liverpool’s city rivals Everton ahead of the Merseyside derby

The sides meet on March 3 and Klopp said Everton will treat it as a ‘World Cup final’

‘What do you mean by significant? More than three points? No,’ the German said. 

‘We have to play Tottenham. We have to play Chelsea. We play Everton and Watford in the next week.

‘So Watford at home, they have been unbelievable this year on counter attacks. If they could be 100 per cent consistent, they would be in the top six.

‘Then you have Everton, and we all know for them, it’s a kind of World Cup final. So with all that stuff, how can we celebrate one win?’

Everton are enduring a disappointing campaign but put in one of their better performances of the season so far in the Merseyside derby earlier this season.

Silva’s side were beaten in the final seconds of the game as Belgian striker Divock Origi snatched all three points with a header past Jordan Pickford and Everton will be keen to exact revenge, damaging Liverpool’s title bid in the process.  

Klopp says opponents are not important now as his stars aim for a first Premier League title

Manchester City are proving fierce competitors and Liverpool know they cannot afford to drop any further points with Pep Guardiola’s side ready to take advantage of any slip up.  

Liverpool have played a game less than their title rivals but have an inferior goal difference and know they face a tough run-in to clinch a first Premier League title. 

For Klopp, the ‘opponents are not important right now’ as the Reds continue to grind out results, hoping to put pressure on City. 

Manchester United held title-challengers Liverpool to a goalless draw on Sunday.

The Red Devils were plagued by injuries – making all three substitutions in the first half – but despite their on-field woes, they regrouped and were able to limit Liverpool to just a handful of chances.

With goals at a premium, Sportsmail took a look at the things you missed from Old Trafford.

Jordan Henderson laments giving away a free-kick for a foul on Man United’s Paul Pogba

At one stage, it looked certain that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would roll back the years and throw himself on as a susbtitute.

The reason? Manchester United’s player were dropping like flies. First, Marcus Rashford started hobbling – then Ander Herrera went down, followed by Juan Mata.

Even substitute Jesse Lingard – who replaced Mata – followed them back down the tunnel.

Liverpool weren’t immune either, as Roberto Firmino suffered a nasty ankle roll. That meant four substitutions before half-time in total. The first time that has happened since February 2009, when Wigan Athletic took on Fulham.  

 Jurgen Klopp meets Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The Liverpool boss was full of praise for his Manchester United counterpart in his pre-match press conference, and the pair exchanged pleasantries ahead of the Sunday afternoon encounter. 

Klopp said: ‘There is no doubt that he will be the manager next year as well, that’s clear.

‘Can you imagine one situation when they say “We are bringing in another manager?” Then a new manager will lose one game and that’s not possible.

‘He deserves (the job) 100% – he did everything that you have to do to be successful with them.’

Man United make three first half substitutions 

Solskjaer reacts to three first half injuries

 Souness calls out presenter David Jones live on air

Lingard gamble backfires

 Four first half substitutions

Salah’s struggles continue