Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool
Mancini will be disappointed with City's performance
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 21, Feb 2010 04:58
by Sam Ross.
Manchester City and Liverpool shared the spoils at Eastlands in a game that displayed signs of both teams being in the relegation zone rather than battling for a Champions League spot.
Both teams cancelled each other out and failed to produce any real goal-scoring opportunities in an uneventful game that promised so much.
Steven Gerrard teased a cross towards the back post in the eighth minute but Maxi Rodriguez failed to capitalise on a hesitant Shay Given as City managed to clear.
City were lacking in any real ambition and it was clear they needed Carlos Tevez - who was back in Argentina with his newborn baby - on the pitch when lone forward Emmanuel Adebayor swung in a cross from the left but no-one was there to get on the end of it.
The negative 4-3-2-1 formation being played by both sides was not developing a great deal of chances with both defences looking happy to sit back and absorb any pressure.
The game was injected a slither of excitement with five minutes of the first half left when a mis-hap in the Liverpool back line nearly allowed Stephen Ireland to score.
Reina played a hospital ball to Daniel Agger who cleared hurriedly and the Dane's hacked clearance fell to the feet of Adam Johnson. The recently signed midfielder then passed to Adebayor who played in Ireland but the Irishman's first touch took him away from goal.
Liverpool's best chance of the game came in the 42nd minute when Gerrard's corner was met by Martin Skrtel but the Slovakian could only guide the ball wide of the right hand post.
The second half began in the same vein as the first with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina called into action for the first time in the 60th minute to save a Adebayor effort.
Adebayor had another half-chance to put his side ahead when he skipped passed Agger and Skrtel but was denied a one-on-one with Reina by a great last ditched toe poked tackle by Skrtel in the 80th minute.
From the resulting corner that was flicked on to the back post where Nigel de Jong was to lift the ball back towards the six yards box but Adebayor could only head over the crossbar.
City had a penalty shout late on when Agger appeared to push the Togolese player over but referee Peter Walton waved the incident away much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
But both teams failed to push for a late winner with five minutes injury time and Peter Walton blew to end a dismal game at Eastlands.