United draw at Liverpool, stay on top

Manchester United preserved their place at the top of the Premier League after a goalless draw at champions Liverpool while Manchester City moved ominously up to second with a 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace.

Alisson made two wonderful saves for Liverpool at Anfield while Thiago and Roberto Firmino went closest for the hosts with United’s lead at the summit now two points.

John Stones scored his first league goals for City, who have a game in hand, to help them to second on goal difference ahead of Leicester City, while Liverpool are a point behind in fourth and Tottenham Hotspur fifth after their 3-1 win at Sheffield United.

Victory for Liverpool would have returned them to the top but, with a makeshift defence and midfield and with their front three misfiring, they rarely looked like winning it.

Instead it was United who came closest to scoring with only Alisson’s reflexes preventing first Bruno Fernandes and then Paul Pogba from close range.

‘‘I think we grew in the game and toward the end it was there for us to win,’’ United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

‘‘I’m a bit disappointed right now but a point might be OK if we win the next one.’’

With Joel Matip not fit to return, Juergen Klopp played midfielders Jordan

Henderson and Fabinho in the centre of defence and they kept United largely at bay.

Liverpool’s unbeaten home run now stands at 68 games but they will be concerned by their lack of goals in their past three outings.

Klopp said he is sure Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino will find their touch soon.

City cruised to a comfortable victory over Palace with Ilkay Guendogan and Raheem Sterling adding to Stones’ two goals.

In London, Serge Aurier, Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele, with a stunning third goal, secured victory for Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, after David McGoldrick had given Sheffield United hope.