Romelu Lukaku watch: Pundits pick apart frustrating afternoon for the Manchester United striker in Anfield stalemate with Liverpool

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Romelu Lukaku had David de Gea to thank for Manchester United going into half time level with Liverpool.

The striker endured a frustrating first 45 minutes at Anfield, which culminated in gifting the hosts a golden opportunity and squandering a similarly inviting chance for United at the other end.

And pundit Graeme Souness believes De Gea's fantastic save to deny Joel Matip is the only reason United went in level at the break.

Sky Sports pundits picked apart a frustrating first half for Romelu Lukaku against Liverpool

David de Gea's world-class save with his feet was the reason United went into the break level

Matip was found barely six yards from goal when he turned the ball towards the Spaniard as the keeper stuck out a leg to keep it at bay.

Souness cited that the move began with Lukaku's laboured exit from the box after a set-piece, and it took a world-class save from United's No 1 to keep the scores level. 

'It started with Lukaku being slow to get out of his box,' Souness said on Sky Sports. 'This is a fantastic save. 

'For a goalkeeper, it doesn’t always have to be with your hands. I think we seen (Hugo) Lloris, Tottenham conceding a goal recently when he was too slow getting down.

'He saves all the time with his feet. He’s alert, he’s alive, and he knows that’s his best chance of keeping it out.' 

Lukaku was then gifted his own chance to put United ahead after a sharp one-two with Anthony Martial — but his shot was at a comfortable height for Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal and his compatriot parried it away.

The Belgian then found himself with a golden chance but hit it straight at Simon Mignolet

Thierry Henry believes he was not in the right mind frame to convert due his frustrating start

Fellow pundit Thierry Henry believes the Belgium international was not in the right mind frame to convert due to his frustrating start to the game.

'The way the game has been going for him, he wasn’t concentrating on his finishing,' said Henry. 

'I think the way he was when he received that ball, he was not in the right frame of mind to execute what he had to execute.'

Lukaku upended Liverpool right back Joe Gomez but escaped a yellow card for the challenge

The forward was then caught up in a tangle which saw him catch Dejan Lovren in the head

His boot appears to flick the defender in the head before Lovren grabs his face in pain

The forward then upended Joe Gomez, but escaped a yellow card, before getting caught in a tangle with Dejan Lovren — which ended with the Belgian catching the defender in the head with his boot.

But Souness believes there was no malice in Lukaku's actions and hopes the boot to the head was accidental.

'His legs get tangled up there, I’ve got to believe the boy didn’t mean that,' Souness concluded.

But Graeme Souness believed that Lukaku's contact with Dejan Lovren's head was accidental

Lukaku went missing for United in the second half and former Old Trafford great Gary Neville was left disappointed by the £75m striker.

'There were little bits of play in the first half but the second half, they sank back there wasn't really any quality,' the pundit said following the draw. 

'I was disappointed with Lukaku. It's a tough place to come, a really tough place to come.

'He looked distracted in the first half, he wasn't himself, he was frustrated. 

'He didn’t make any impact, no influence. It’s the big matches which will define him as a Manchester United striker, not the matches where bullies teams.'

Old Trafford legend Gary Neville was also left disappointed by the performance of Lukaku