Manchester City moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League despite a dull goalless draw in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
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United and City had the chance to make a real statement about their title chances by registering a big win, but neither was up to the challenge and the two teams played out just the third goalless draw between them in Premier League history.
Wilfried Bony was unable to fill the considerable void left by Sergio Aguero’s absence while Yaya Toure had a day to forget playing in the number 10 role where the injured David Silva usually causes so much damage.
United fared no better. It was only in the last 10 minutes that they started to turn the screw on their rivals.
Wayne Rooney failed to mark his first match as a thirtysomething with a goal. The United captain, who needed his head stapling together after a clash of heads with Vincent Kompany, was anonymous throughout.
Jesse Lingard rattled the bar and Joe Hart saved from Chris Smalling at the death, but otherwise the hosts did not trouble the City goalkeeper.
A furious Steve McClaren criticised referee Robert Madley after seeing Newcastle slip to a 3-0 derby defeat by Sunderland in controversial circumstances.
The Magpies head coach hit out at the official for not awarding his side a penalty and then pointing to the spot at the other end and sending off skipper Fabricio Coloccini as the Black Cats broke in an explosive conclusion to the first half at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland took full advantage of what manager Sam Allardyce later admitted had been a stroke of good fortune to run out easy winners and claim their first Barclays Premier League victory of the campaign at the 10th attempt.
Harry Kane returned to form with a hat-trick as Tottenham Hotspur beat sorry Bournemouth 5-1.
The England international had scored just once for Spurs this season heading into the clash at the Vitality Stadium but showed his finishing touch had not deserted him during the Londoners’ mauling of Eddie Howe’s side.
The hosts had raced into a 49-second lead thanks to Matt Ritchie’s smart finish but a string of errors from goalkeeper Artur Boruc proved to be Bournemouth’s undoing as Kane helped himself to a hat-trick, with Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela also on the scoresheet.
Boruc, returning to the starting line-up after missing the 5-1 loss to Manchester City last week due to an injury in the warm-up, had a day to forget while Kane, who was courted by Howe during his tenure at Burnley, has the match-ball as a memento from what he will hope is the turning point of his season.
Liverpool have only scored more than 1 goal in 1 match this season v Aston Villa.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) October 25, 2015
Jurgen Klopp is still searching for his first win as Liverpool manager after his Premier League home debut ended in another frustrating 1-1 draw.
Substitute Christian Benteke looked like he had settled a turgid encounter at home to Southampton with a thumping 77th-minute header.
Klopp was four minutes away from joining Rafael Benitez, who in 2004 was the last manager to win his first Anfield league game, when Sadio Mane forced home from close range, only to spoil his afternoon by getting sent off for a second yellow card in added time.
