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Riyad Mahrez missed an 85th-minute penalty as the Premier League\u2019s top two Manchester City and Liverpool drew 0-0 at Anfield.<\/p>\nRiyad Mahrez missed an 85th-minute penalty as the Premier League\u2019s top two Manchester City and Liverpool drew 0-0 at Anfield.<\/p>\n
The visitors had three previous claims for a spot-kick before Virgil van Dijk\u2019s challenge on substitute Leroy Sane eventually resulted in one, but \u00a360million summer signing Mahrez blazed over.<\/p>\n
It resulted in the first goalless draw between these two at Anfield since 1986 \u2013 and also City\u2019s first clean sheet at the ground since then \u2013 but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will be celebrating Monday\u2019s third anniversary at the club as the happier manager.<\/p>\n
The point allowed City to regain top spot from Chelsea, who had briefly taken over after their win over Southampton earlier in the day, but their opponents dropped to third.<\/p>\n
However, the top three are all on 18 points and separated by goal difference only.<\/p>\n
It was billed as the biggest game of the season so far but it failed to live up to those expectations as, until the last 15 minutes, both sides appeared reluctant to commit to all-out attack for fear of what the consequences at the other end may be.<\/p>\n
Mohamed Salah, who failed to score in a league match at Anfield for only the second time since Boxing Day, fired an early effort wide after turning John Stones but it said much about the first half that it was the closest either side came to threatening a goal.<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola, aware of how twice on this ground last season Liverpool blew them away in a 25-minute spell, appeared to have set up his side to absorb much of the early and take the sting out of Liverpool with a view to capitalizing later on.<\/p>\n
Joe Gomez, shunted back to the right of defence to accommodate Dejan Lovren\u2019s first Premier League appearance of the season, made up for his loss of possession to Fernandinho to chase back and block Raheem Sterling\u2019s angled shot.<\/p>\n
The change of position seemed to have a destabilizing effect on the 21-year-old, who diverted Lovren\u2019s header back to Sergio Aguero in the penalty area.<\/p>\n
With Lovren closing in behind him, the Argentina international went down but referee Martin Atkinson waved away penalty claims.<\/p>\n
James Milner\u2019s hamstring injury changed the complexion of the game as City took advantage of Naby Keita\u2019s arrival to exert their influence in opposition territory, although again without any real danger for their hosts.<\/p>\n
On the hour Sterling\u2019s corner hit Van Dijk\u2019s arm but Atkinson ruled Fernandinho had climbed all over the Holland international, much to the anger of City\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n
Silva\u2019s pass sent Mahrez, preferred to Sane, running through the middle but his angled shot rolled past the far post while a frustrated Aguero, who has never scored in his 10 games at Anfield, was replaced by Gabriel Jesus with 25 minutes remaining and retired to the bench with his hood pulled up.<\/p>\n
Having briefly escaped the smothering presence of Benjamin Mendy, Salah\u2019s moment came when Andrew Robertson picked him out.<\/p>\n
But the Egypt international snatched at the chance with the confidence of a player with one goal in his last eight matches.<\/p>\n
Mahrez was next to threaten, forcing Alisson Becker into a low save at his left-hand post.<\/p>\n
Jesus went down holding his face after a stray hand from Lovren but City\u2019s third penalty appeal also went unheard, while Sturridge\u2019s weak header was scooped up by Ederson as more half-chances came and went.<\/p>\n
Sane, who had replaced Sterling, did make the difference when his run down the left tempted the usually unflappable Van Dijk to make a tackle he probably did not have to and City finally had their penalty.<\/p>\n
With Aguero off the pitch the responsibility was handed to Mahrez \u2013 after Jesus was seemingly told to stand down \u2013 but with Alisson going the right away he blazed over, making it three failures in his last six.<\/p>\n
It also extended Liverpool\u2019s run without conceding a home league goal to 811 minutes.<\/p>\n