Mahrez penalty miss sees Liverpool escape with draw

Liverpool escaped with a vital point as Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty with five minutes remaining in an otherwise tepid 0-0 Premier League clash at Anfield.

There was plenty of huff and puff, but a quality final ball was lacking from both sides and chances were very few and far between. Both sides seemed jaded by their midweek Champions League exertions.

But City had a golden opportunity to wrap up all three points and gain their first win at Anfield since 2004 when Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dyke brought down substitute Leroy Sane.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Liverpool v Manchester City

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However, Mahrez thumped his left-footed spot-kick over the bar and high into the Anfield Road end, where City’s supporters were located. It was his fourth penalty miss in from his last six attempts.

Defeat for either side would have been an injustice, however, despite the paucity of chances.

At Anfield, Liverpool had scored before the interval in each of their last eight Premier League games against City and they were on top in the opening exchanges, but City were equal to everything Jurgen Klopp’s side threw at them.

Sadio Mane was a constant threat down the Liverpool left and he fathomed the first half-chance, chipping to the far post. Benjamin Mendy did well to get something on the ball – had he not, Mohamed Salah was waiting at the far post.

James Milner produced a good corner from the right after 12 minutes and Dejan Lovren made contact, although City keeper Ederson did well to fall on the loose ball and gather in his six-yard area.

At the other end, Joseph Gomez recovered well to block former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling’s low cross and turn the ball behind for a corner.

It was end-to-end in the opening 15 minutes, but City were content to sit back and keep things tight, using the pace of Sterling and David Silva to break when the opportunity arose.

When they did threaten, Lovren and Vigil Van Dyke had to be on their mettle to get crucial headers away from the Liverpool area.

City had heated penalty claims dismissed after 20 minutes. A mistake from Gomez saw the ball travel straight back to Aguero after an initial clearance from Lovren. The defender caught the Argentine with his boot, but referee Martin Atkinson was adamant no offense was committed. Aguero got up and attempted to fire at goal, only to see his effort deflect wide of the post by Lovren.

After Bernardo was cautioned for sliding in on Salah soon after, Liverpool suffered a blow just before the half-hour when Milner limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Naby Keita.

But both teams appeared to give each other far too much respect and the opening period failed to produce many fireworks, although the edge was apparent when Mane and Fernandinho got a little heated and Geoginio Wijnaldum had to step in and calm things down.

After some patient build-up play, Sterling and Silva combined well in the Liverpool box and it was only a block by Van Dyke who prevented a goal-bound shot just before the break.

City’s centre halves John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were the busiest players on the field in the first period, yet for all the quality of both sides, there were few clear-cut opportunities from either.

Lapses in concentration and the lack of a quality final ball meant that the sides went in level at the interval without having forced a save from either keeper, and it was an unusually quiet Anfield for such a big game.

City had obviously learned lessons from last season’s defeat and were less open. Salah along with Roberto Firmino and Mane were kept quiet in the first period, while City were unable to get support in and around Sergio Aguero.

One had to wonder, given the paucity of attacking intent, what would have been said if Jose Mourinho had been in charge of either team, rather than Guardiola or Klopp. Pilloried for his defensive-minded tactics, Mourinho simply does not have the quality of player at the back at Manchester United and has had trouble masking those deficiencies.

It would be intriguing if United had a player the quality of Van Dyke or Stones at the heart of the defence. Yet it wasn’t so much of a man-hunt, but more of a chance-hunt as the second half got underway.

City’s defensive capability was on display 10 minutes into the second half, when Mane charged down the left flank towards the by-line and cut the ball into the middle. However, no red shirt was able to get a connection and the visitors crowded Liverpool out.

Aguero went into the book for a high challenge on Henderson which resulted in a few words between Klopp and Guardiola, who thought the Liverpool player had made more of the challenge than he should have done. Yet the respect the two managers have for each other was evident throughout.

Mahrez fathomed a fair chance after 60 minutes but dragged his shot across the face of goal and two minutes later he got the game’s first shot on target, but Allison saved well.

The old cliché ‘wait long enough and two come along at once’ was apt when Liverpool got their first short on target immediately after when Salah curled goalwards, but Edison moved to his right to catch the ball with ease.

Liverpool, who have not conceded at Anfield in the Premier League since February, frustrated City and Aguero was withdrawn for Gabriel Jesus on 65 minutes.

Salah blazed wide at the other end following a quick goal-kick with 20 minutes remaining, while another Mahrez shot forced Alisson to tip round the post as City’s breaks became more threatening the later the game wore on.

Then came Mahrez’s dreadful spot-kick, which briefly livened up the game, but the Anfield hoodoo continued for Guardiola’s men.

While City will be happier with the point, Liverpool extended their unbeaten run at home against City to 16 matches since 2004 (W11 D5) and their ninth consecutive clean sheet at home, a club record.

It is still all to play for and City remain top on goal difference.