There could be no complaints about the industry on show but, Steven Gerrard apart, there was a distinct lack of quality and a major improvement is required if either club is to provide a genuine challenge to the seemingly unstoppable Stamford Bridge machine.
• Both admit lack of invention
After a tepid first-half, Gerrard tried to bring the contest to life, glancing one header over, forcing Edwin van der Sar into his best save and providing the assists for two Luis Garcia chances, both of which went begging.
United offered little in return, Ruud van Nistelrooy wasting their most obvious opportunity just before the break but the sight of a subdued Wayne Rooney trudging to the touchline near the end as he was replaced by Darren Fletcher summed it all up.
The two most successful sides in English football history approached the contest in the sure knowledge a failure to collect maximum points would leave them struggling to claw Chelsea back.
Even at this early stage, the margin for error is almost non-existent, so the thunderous start, particularly from the visitors, was totally expected.
Having stationed fit-again Roy Keane with fellow firebrand Alan Smith in front of his defence, Sir Alex Ferguson set his stall out not to let Liverpool through and though the hosts huffed and puffed, the tactic largely succeeded.
It must have been intensely frustrating for Rafael Benitez, who named Peter Crouch at the head of his attack, saw the 6ft 7in striker win every aerial battle he contested, yet failed to find a team-mate with any of his flick-ons.
The chronic lack of support allowed Rio Ferdinand and company to clear any danger with some degree of comfort and although Steven Gerrard nearly burst clear a couple of times and John Arne Riise screwed a shot just wide, it took the home side 40 minutes to have their first effort on target, which Edwin van der Sar saved from Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
Not that United were any better. Rooney kept his temper in check, but his magical talents largely remained under wraps too.
There was one offering of genius, a deft flick which looked like it would release Ruud van Nistelrooy until Jamie Carragher robbed the Dutchman with a fine sliding tackle.
Van Nistelrooy did not really test Jose Reina with an early free-kick, but it was not until stoppage time that his best opportunity arrived when Rio Ferdinand burst forward and played a neat pass through to the striker.
With an instant to determine the best course of action before Carragher closed him down, Van Nistelrooy opted for a deft chip which sailed over Reina but landed on the roof of his net.
United set out with greater intent after the interval, yet it was Liverpool who might have gone in front when John O'Shea gifted possession to Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool captain intelligently continued his run after feeding Riise and when the cross came to the near post, he rose well but could not keep his header on target.
It was the first of three successive opportunities for the hosts and Gerrard had the next one too, a thunderous 25-yard shot which Van der Sar could only beat away.
Unsurprisingly, Gerrard was the instigator of the third too, feeding Luis Garcia to his left, only for the Spaniard to drill an angled effort well wide of the far post.
Although it did not bring Liverpool a goal, the trio of failed efforts at least represented goalmouth action, not something that was occurring very often at the other end as Van Nistelrooy, starved of meaningful support toiled for no reward.
Garcia glanced a header wide, with Gerrard again the provider as Liverpool tried to force a winner.
But not even the introduction of Djibril Cisse for Crouch near the end could manage that.
Sir Alex Ferguson waited 88 minutes to make a change of his own but by then, the rot had well and truly set in.
Both admit lack of invention
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard acknowledged the Anfield side gave Manchester
United too much space to play in the first half of today's draw between the
Barclays Premiership rivals.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side had the better of the first half and although
Liverpool improved after the turnaround it ended goalless.
Gerrard said afterwards: 'Maybe we showed them a little bit too much respect
in the first half.
'But if you take too many chances and push men forward they (United) are that
good on the counter-attack they can nick it 1-0.
'I think they will be happy to come to Anfield and get a point.'
The England midfielder continued on Sky Sports: 'I think it's a fair result.
'They controlled the first half and we pushed more in the second half without
creating any clear-cut chances.'
Gerrard himself had the best chance of the game with a long-range effort which
was saved by Edwin van der Sar.
And the Liverpool midfielder continued: 'I caught it well and saw it moving
but it has to be right in the corner to beat Van der Sar - he is a world-class
goalie. You have to hit it perfectly to beat him.
'I thought we started the second half a lot better and were the better side
in the second half.'
Liverpool have now netted just once in four league games, although they have
yet to concede a goal.
Gerrard said: 'We'll keep working on the training ground and hopefully the
goals will come.'
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said: 'It's a good point.
'Manchester United are strong and good in defence, so it was difficult.
'I think the teams are similar, although you will always opportunities to win
these type of games.'
Asked about his team's goalscoring difficulties, the Spaniard added: 'You
can't win if you don't score but it's better to have clean sheets.
'Sometimes it's down to luck - we can improve but we are going the right way
because against clubs we are now controlling games and going forward.'
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wondered if the intense rivalry between United and
Liverpool was in danger of producing more dour stalemates like today's.
'There was nothing wrong with the atmosphere between the players but maybe
these games are too intense and too important now. You could see 0-0 written all
over it from very early on.
'Maybe it makes it difficult for players to relax, particularly the forwards.
Today I thought we had a good chance when Ruud got through and he opted for the
chip. I asked him about it at half-time and he told me `he (Jose Reina) was so
off his line I thought the chip was on'. He's (van Nistelrooy) normally spot-on
with his decision making.
'Liverpool set their stall out making it very hard to break them down but
we've got enough quality to do something about that. We showed good
professionalism and composure but we just lacked the cutting edge.'
Ferguson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, rarely in agreement, have recently
joined forces in suggesting the Premiership is in danger of suffering from a
lack of entertainment with home sides reluctant to take the initiative.
But Ferguson added on Sky Sports: 'It's early season and players are superbly
fit at the moment. They are closing space down all the time but, come November,
there will be more space and they will have got their passing going.'
Liverpool 0 - 0 Manchester United
