The two major contenders for the EPL’s lucrative fourth spot fought out a bore draw at Eastlands, both sides too fearful of losing to try hard enough to win.

The mentality led to a desperate game, which only became remotely lively once City’s Craig Bellamy came off the bench midway through the second half.

The only clear cut chance of the first half arrived with a minute of it left when unmarked centre-back Martin Skrtel headed over Steven Gerrard’s corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

Manchester City were livelier after half-time and Emmanuel Adebayor’s right-foot drive on the hour mark forced the first save of the match, Liverpool’s Pepe Reina turning the ball aside low by his right-hand post.

Refereeing controversies provided more points of interest than the football thereafter, despite Bellamy’s galvanising presence.

Adebayor appeared to be pushed over in the penalty area by Daniel Agger in the closing stages.

And Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun could have gone down under a clumsy Vincent Kompany challenge in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano should have seen red for the umpteenth time in his career after a studs-up challenge on City’s Gareth Barry, with his name already in referee Peter Walton’s notebook.