With 84 minutes on the clock and Manchester United defending a one goal lead against Liverpool Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned to his bench for the first time.

For the first hour at least it had been a game plan which has been well executed by United and Solskjaer's decision to switch formation, playing with a back three, almost helped United to their third league win of the season.

United, maybe somewhat understandably, retreated in the second half and sat deep to defend their one goal advantage and while Solskjaer's plan was to hit Jurgen Klopp's side on the counter there was a feeling in the stadium that an equaliser was coming as the league leaders pushed for a goal.

Klopp made his first change on the the hour mark with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Divock Origi. 10 minutes later it was Adam Lallana who came on and would go on to score Liverpool's goal 14 minutes later. While Naby Keita was Klopp's final roll of the dice in the 82nd minute and that was before Solskjaer had made a single change.

Manchester United vs Liverpool reaction

With Liverpool dominating possession and getting closer to an equaliser Solskjaer could have done with making a change earlier. And while he's been criticised by Phil Neville for not introducing Anthony Martial 10 minutes sooner the reality is he didn't have the personnel on the bench who were capable of changing the game.

Taking Martial out of the equation United were left with a bench of Juan Mata, who has under-performed this season, Phil Jones who has struggled for a place on the bench and was only there after a last minute injury to Axel Tuanzebe and three academy graduates in the form of Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Brandon Williams.

The latter was brought on in injury time for his first Premier League minutes and while nobody would begrudge a teenage academy graduate an appearance for the first team, United shouldn't be in a position where that is who they've got to bring on.

Klopp was lauded for his substitutions and how the three players he brought on changed the game in Liverpool's favour and in the dying minutes it looked like they were going to go on and win while United were left ruing a defensive lapse in concentration which stopped them picking up an impressive win against a team on a 17 match winning streak.

It's evident United are lacking leaders and they could have done with an experienced head to bring off the bench on Sunday and get them over the line.

Already this season United's lack in squad depth has been exposed through injuries and while that played a part with the decisions made for the squad to face Liverpool, with a number of key players still sidelined, it was a game that yet again exposed United's failings in the past few transfer windows.