Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City: 3 takeaways

The battle of two best clubs in England to go top of the league. Liverpool came into the game at the back of a defeat in midweek in the Champions League while City was looking to continue their winning run and go farther away from their rivals.

The game started in its usual frenzy fashion, and the first chance of the match fell to Mo Salah, but his shot was just wide of the post. It was all Liverpool in the early part of the game, and Man City had no room to breathe. Manchester City gradually started to get a foothold in the game after the initial pressing by the Reds.

The Halftime ended with both teams failing to provide the breakthrough. It didn't live up to the expectation in front of the goal. The first half had a good tempo about it, but all was in the centre of the pitch with both the goalkeepers had a relatively quiet half.

Like the first half, it was all Liverpool at the beginning of the second. Against the run of play, Mahrez produced the best moment of the match, but his shot swung away from the post. He again got a chance to score, but this time he hit straight to Alisson. Mo Salah created an opportunity for himself, but his final shot was well over the bar.

Mahrez provided the threat for City in the second half forcing Alisson to make another good low save. Manchester City was awarded a penalty after Van Dijk tripped Sane inside the box but Riyad Mahrez failed to convert from the spot. Liverpool smelled towards the end and went for the winner, but as the entire game, they were unable to create any clear chances. Finally, the game ended at 0-0.

Here are the three takeaways from the game:

#3 Disappointing show in the attack by Liverpool

Mo Salah failed to make any mark

Liverpool played with high tempo both in the initial and ending stage of both the halves. But most of their play was confined in the center of the pitch.

After a disappointing midweek performance in the Champions League, it was expected that Jurgen Klopp's men would turn up in Anfield and put a thrilling show. But the attack let them down tremendously. The front three got a couple of chances but nothing substantial to trouble the goalkeeper. It was a disappointing spectacle by the Reds attackers in front of the Kop.

#2 Big miss by Mahrez

Mahrez missed a penalty.

It was all set to be a fairytale ending for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City when they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Van Dijk inside the box on Sane. Mahrez was given the responsibility to take the spot-kick which was huge in the context of the game, one which could have made him a proper City player.

But he fired his shot way above the bar. The moment he walked to take the kick, he looked tentative, and his record says, the Algerian doesn't have a good time taking penalty kicks. It could have given Pep Guardiola's men vital three points in the league which would have set them as sole leaders at the top of the table.

#1 Three-way tie for the title

Pep would be disappointed not to have won the match

After Chelsea's big win earlier in the day, it's now an apparent battle between three clubs - Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea for the Barclays Premier League title. Liverpool and City were bookmakers favourites to win the league, but Chelsea with their performances has included themselves in that mix as well.

Manchester City could have won the game today, and Pep Guardiola would be extremely disappointed after Mahrez missed the penalty. Still, he would be happy to get the point at a ground where he lost last season in the Premier League as well as in the Champions League.