I watched Roy Keane's furious spat with Virgil van Dijk and the Man United verdict was damning

Before the match, plenty was made of the historic rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Two huge cities pitted against each other, goliaths with countless trophies between them, a sporting rivalry like no other... it was no great shock when the 97 minutes of action failed to live up to the hype.

Perhaps this was not helped by Liverpool's largest-ever home attendance in the Premier League producing an atmosphere that wouldn't have looked out of place in a village church. But the supporters can be forgiven for sitting on their hands given the football that was on show.

READ MORE: Keane slams 'arrogant' Van Dijk

READ MORE: How United dressing room reacted to Liverpool draw

Fortunately for Sky Sports, they justified their viewers wasting one of the last weekends before Christmas plonked in front of the telly by broadcasting a ding-dong battle we had hoped to witness on the pitch. Virgil van Dijk vs Roy Keane was by far the best match-up of the afternoon.

It began with Van Dijk's assessment of the timid match. He presented an aura of entitlement that only Manchester City supporters are allowed to get away with these days. He claimed the visitors were 'buzzing' with a goalless draw and came to shut up shop.

This clearly irked Keane as the broadcast returned to the studio. United's former captain pulled no punches as he brutally put Van Dijk in his place.

"Obviously we have just heard Van Dijk speaking there and a lot of arrogance is coming out of him, dissing United like that," Keane said. "He needs a reminder himself, he is playing for a club who has won one title in 30-odd years.

"He is saying only one team wanted to win, Man United are buzzing with the point… Man United are in a difficult place like Liverpool