PREM: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) celebrates his equaliser against Liverpool

Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his hot goalscoring streak with a late headed equaliser as Manchester United rescued a 1-1 draw against old foes Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho deployed Ibrahimovic - who now has 13 goals in as many games - from the start, leaving Rooney on the bench, and had urged his side to be "faster and sharper" against their fiercest rivals. The visitors, luminous shirts set up as a diamond in midfield, settled the quicker but a string of early corners came to nothing and the sides - who played out a stodgy goalless draw back in October - only probed and tested in the opening exchanges.

Anthony Martial quickened home pulses with an early dart into the box - a penalty appeal when he fell under Dejan Lovren's challenge swiftly dismissed - and then found Ibrahimovic waiting eagerly at the back post, the ball just evading the Swede's high boot (14).

Liverpool had another let-off when Simon Mignolet's blocked clearance, chased down by Ibrahimovic, looped ominously towards goal but the first real chance came with 20 minutes on the clock when Pogba raced onto Henrikh Mkhitaryan's through-ball but dragged wide, Mourinho left grimacing on the touchline.

Lovren had already lost Pogba at two set-pieces but the Frenchman was culpable with consequences on 26, an ill-advised leap with his arm outstretched prompting referee Michael Oliver to point to the spot. Milner stepped up, cool in the cauldron, and summoned enough power to beat David de Gea's dive.

United were suddenly racked with nerves but Mignolet was soon forced into a smart stop as an Ibrahimovic free-kick flew over the wet turf (32) - and the goalkeeper stood firm again to deny Mkhitaryan after Ragnar Klavan dithered.

Mourinho, planning to do and set-pieces to sort, headed down the tunnel early and might have felt fate's pull when he replaced Michael Carrick with Rooney at half-time. Martial, teed up by Mkhitaryan, went agonisingly close (55) as the hosts attacked with increased urgency, but Klopp called for reinforcements of his own and fit-again Coutinho fired a warning when a clever reverse pass afforded Roberto Firmino a pop.

Rooney - watched on by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham - had a sniff of goal number 250 when a ball dropped loose on the edge of the box but the effort was tame and soon he was being chastised for a lusty challenge on Milner amid clamour for red.

Georginio Wijnaldum failed with a flying header as Liverpool fleetingly threatened to wrestle back the momentum, but up the other end, Rooney, unaware offside had been called, had another shot at history, forcing Mignolet into action with his half-volley.

Mournino's men had spurned a string of chances but Liverpool's resolve finally broke as time ticked away. Substitute Marouane Fellaini flicked a header against the far post and Valencia recycled the attack, serving up a ball that Ibrahimovic directed home off the underside of the bar.

Both sides pushed for a late winner as temperatures rose - the fourth official coming between Klopp and Mourinho after Firmino and Herrera clashed towards the end - but there was no final drama on the pitch, the points frustratingly shared, no matter how enthralling the contest.