In a heated Premier League match at Anfield on the 17th December 2023, Liverpool and Manchester United held each other to a goalless draw, in full 90 minutes game. Looking at the underlying statistics of the encounter, it was largely a one-sided affair as Liverpool demonstrated a relentless pursuit on the offence end, but just couldn't find the back of the net.

Liverpool had 8 shots on target and a staggering 26 shots off target, more than six times the total shots Manchester United had during the game. Despite Manchester United's robust defence, it is astonishing that Liverpool couldn't convert any of their attempts into goals.

On the corners front, Liverpool was also dominant with 12 corner kicks during the match compared to Manchester United's zero. This implies that Liverpool was very aggressive and consistently probed Manchester United's defense in a bid to score. On the other hand, Manchester United was under immense pressure and struggled to push the ball deep into Liverpool's half.

The foul count also pointed out a clear difference in approaches of both teams. Liverpool was more disciplined, registering 5 fewer fouls than Manchester United. The Red Devils' aggressive approach to defending and restricting Liverpool's onslaught resulted in a count of 5 yellow cards. Worthy to note that Rashford and Dalot received their bookings in quick succession in the latter part of the second half - a crucial period of the game where Manchester United was under the most pressure.

Moreover, Manchester United ended up with a red card, further numbers evidence their high-pressure defending approach trying to resist Liverpool's attacks. Their defensive, foul-prone approach upset their rhythm, leading to fewer opportunities to threaten the Liverpool goal.

Despite going offside four times, Liverpool demonstrated that their tactical approach was aggressive all game long, relentlessly attempting through balls and deep runs into the opposition's half. On the other hand, Manchester United's two offsides throughout the match indicate a lack of such attempts, confirming their more conservative, defensive approach.

In conclusion, the key statistical takeaway from this match lies in the sheer volume of Liverpool's offence and Manchester United's defensive approach. Although the match ended in a goalless draw, the data positioning Liverpool as the dominant team is inescapable. There remains the question of how Liverpool, given their significant domination in shot attempts and possession, failed to score. Conversely, Manchester United will perhaps consider themselves lucky to leave Anfield with a point in light of their underwhelming offensive display and mounting defensive pressure.

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