A week in which Liverpool completed a serene progression through to the semi-finals of the Champions League ended with them labouring towards a goalless draw against a distinctly average Manchester City side. [We've seen this before]

Liverpool's European opponents, PSV, were good enough over two legs to eliminate Arsenal in the previous round. It is hard to imagine City doing that at present.

A bright start on Saturday was characterised by some sophisticated retention of possession from Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso with Steven Gerrard, playing ahead of them and behind Dirk Kuyt, popping up where City least wanted him to. But the longer the game went on, the more fractured it became and the less Liverpool's cultured midfielders saw of the ball.

A change of tactics in the second half, with the labouring Kuyt given some much-needed support in the shape of Peter Crouch, failed to restore their superiority and the match petered out into a forgettable goalless draw.

Labels: Liverpool FC