Riyad Mahrez wasted a glorious opportunity to send Manchester City clear at the top of the Premier League as he missed a late penalty in a disappointing goalless draw against Liverpool.
City’s £60m summer signing from Leicester City fired an 85th-minute spot-kick high over the bar after substitute Leroy Sane had been brought down by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. It handed the Reds a reprieve as both sides extended their unbeaten league starts to eight games, with City now top on goal difference from Chelsea and Liverpool – all three are level on 20 points.
City felt they were denied two earlier penalty claims when Dejan Lovren bundled over Sergio Aguero and Van Dijk handled in an aerial challenge – referee Martin Atkinson waving away the first appeal and awarding a foul for a push by Fernandinho in the second incident. Mahrez also squandered City’s other big chance in a game that failed to live up to expectations, dragging an effort wide, while keeper Ederson was virtually unemployed against Liverpool’s normally potent attack.
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