A goalless draw between reigning champions Manchester City and title challengers Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium allowed Liverpool to remain two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
A grand total of just three shots on target throughout the match certainly comes as a surprise, with both sides previously hitting the back of the net on a staggering 133 occasions this season.
As it happened
Knowing a victory would send them to within one point of the summit – after Jürgen Klopp’s side’s 2-1 success over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in the afternoon – City saw an early chance go amiss as Nathan Aké could only disappointingly direct his close-range downward header straight at David Raya, when it seemed easier to have scored.
In a surprisingly lacklustre first half in front of goal, as Gabriel Jesus fired inches wide before Rodri planted his header nowhere near the target with Raya in a vulnerable position, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta would have surely been relieved to hear the sound of the whistle for half-time.
Embed from Getty ImagesDetermined to be more clinical in their endeavours of breaking the deadlock than they were in the first half, the hosts bombarded Raya’s rearguard straight from the restart as Mateo Kovačić shot wide before Erling Haaland saw his goalbound effort blocked by a City defender.
Similarly to the opening 45 minutes, goalscoring opportunities for both sides were few and far between throughout the remainder of the contest. Amidst efforts for Jérémy Doku and Joško Gvardiol, substitute Leandro Trossard’s fiercely-struck strike in the 86th minute marked the only shot on target in the second half.
The lineups
MCI: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Aké, Gvardiol; Rodri; Silva, Foden, De Bruyne, Kovačić; Haaland
ARS: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Ødegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Havertz, Saka, Jesus
