United stifles Liverpool in EPL

LIVERPOOL — Manchester United’s defensive tactics blunted Liverpool’s prolific attack as England’s two most illustrious teams toughed out a 0-0 draw in the Premier League Monday. United manager Jose Mourinho’s approach went to plan at Anfield, with Liverpool having 65 percent possession but failing to score in a home league game for the first time in exactly 10 months. United was the opponent then, too, but under Louis van Gaal. “I think we controlled the game tactically and emotionally,” Mourinho said. “It’s not easy to do both things here. The result is acceptable ... A very positive performance.” When Liverpool’s players did break free of United’s fierce pressing, they found David de Gea in fine form, with the Spain goalkeeper producing excellent saves to deny Emre Can and, in particular, Philippe Coutinho in the second half. Liverpool started the league’s eighth round of games with the joint-most goals of any team and had scored nine times in its two home matches so far. The host improved in the second half, especially after fit-again midfielder Adam Lallana came on as a substitute, but was never going to get the three-goal victory that would have put it top. What is often regarded as the biggest fixture in English soccer failed to live up to its billing and much of that was down to Mourinho. “It (the game) was what United wanted, and what we didn’t want,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “We tried everything, only with the wrong tools.” United stayed in seventh place, five points off the lead. Osasuna beats Eibar Eibar scored less than a minute into the game but went on to lose to promoted Osasuna 3-2 in the Spanish league Monday. Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Escalante opened the scoring for the hosts before Osasuna rallied with a pair of goals by Sergio Leon in the 29th and 32nd minutes. Sergi Enrich equalized for Eibar just before halftime, but Roberto Torres scored the winner with a 58th-minute goal in pouring rain at the Ipurua Stadium. Osasuna claimed its first league victory this season after losing five of its first seven games. It has six points and remains 19th in the 20-team standings. Eighth-placed Eibar is seven points behind leader Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Torino moves up to 4th Torino moved into fourth place with a 4-1 win at Palermo Monday, ruining the Sicilian host’s celebration of its 1,000th Serie A match. After Bulgaria midfielder Ivaylo Chochev put Palermo ahead early, Torino responded with two goals from Adem Ljajic and one each from Marco Benassi and Daniele Baselli. Extending its unbeaten run to five matches, Torino moved level on points with Napoli but ahead on goal difference. Palermo, which has lost all four of its home matches, remained third from the bottom. — Agencies