Man City 0-0 Liverpool: Liverpool's 100 per cent record over the festive period was ruined by Manchester City as Rafael Benitez's men failed to make their pressure tell at Eastlands.
Despite dominating for long periods, especially during a one-sided second-half, Liverpool could not find a way through.
Joe Hart produced an excellent late stop to deny Dirk Kuyt but City's real hero was skipper Richard Dunne, who threw himself at everything in his desire to repel Liverpool's threat.
Harry Kewell nodded Yossi Benayoun's corner wide before City manager Sven Goran Eriksson introduced Rolando Bianchi, to the delight of the home faithful, for Blumer Elano.
There was no immediate change in the pattern of play, though, as Hart got down low to keep out Benayoun's latest effort.
Steven Gerrard fired wide after Ryan Babel had replaced Kewell, then Fernando Torres was booked for a foul on Nedum Onuoha.
Dunne and Onuoha combined to halt Babel's speedy burst but City found themselves in trouble from the corner as Kuyt rose to power a header towards goal, which Hart could only parry.
Thankfully, Dunne was on hand to boot off the line before the City skipper then slid in to block Benayoun's goal-bound effort.
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