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Discuss this article (0 Comments)Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd all held to goalless draws
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 23 November 2008
Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd all drew a blank on Saturday as the top three clubs in the UK's Premiership were held to scoreless draws.
Chelsea endured another frustrating afternoon at Stamford Bridge as the Premier League leaders were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle.
The Blues wasted the chance to consolidate their position thanks to some sloppy finishing and dogged defending from the visitors, and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari must now treat his team's stuttering home form as a matter of some urgency.
Chelsea have now dropped nine points in their west London backyard this term - this was their third league draw, while Liverpool ended their long unbeaten home run last month - and that record has cost them the chance to establish a healthy lead at the league summit.
His team enjoyed possession and territory by the bucket-load against Newcastle but the attacking spark which so often characterises their displays on the road was conspicuous by its absence.
Newcastle, for their part, won few friends with a performance utterly bereft of attacking intent but Joe Kinnear, the manager, will make no apology for that.
Liverpool's Premier League title challenge suffered an unexpected setback when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham at Anfield.
Robbie Keane was guilty of a glaring miss for the second successive game as Rafa Benitez's side were forced to settle for a point.
But it could have been much worse for the below-par hosts. Spain keeper Jose Reina produced a spectacular save to deny Jimmy Bullard from earning Fulham their first ever win at Anfield.
Despite watching his side win seven of the previous eight Premier League outings, Benitez had warned his players on the eve of the game that they are guilty of wasting too many chances.
Chelsea started the day with a far superior goal difference and with the title chase expected to be one of the tightest for years, the Liverpool manager is anxious to reduce the London club's 15-goal advantage.
Yet his words fell on deaf ears during a woeful game littered with mistakes.
Manchester United missed the chance to close the points gap on Chelsea and Liverpool as the champions were held to a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in a late afternoon kick-off.
In a game of few chances, the best fell to Ashley Young but the Villa winger twice missed and the home side also had a penalty claim rejected for Nemanja Vidic's tug on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Despite the incentive of Chelsea's 0-0 draw against Newcastle earlier in the day, United were unusually subdued and Cristiano Ronaldo showed his frustration when he was substituted eight minutes from time, gesticulating to the crowd.
The result leaves United still eight points off top spot with a game in hand and in danger of surrendering their title.
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