City and Arsenal stalemate hands Liverpool advantage
Neither Arsenal nor Manchester City could find a breakthrough at Etihad Stadium as a 0-0 draw in what was billed as a possible Premier League title decided handed the lead on the table and the initiative to Liverpool.
The Reds beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 earlier in the day to take top spot, and remained there after the showdown in Manchester as a result of the stalemate.
While Arsenal showed its title credentials by holding reigning champion City, Liverpool now holds the advantage in what has become a fascinating three-way title race.
Mikel Arteta's Gunners, in the hunt for a first league title in 20 years, is now second on the table on 65 points with nine games remaining, while City sits in third with 64. Liverpool, on top, has 67 points.
City dominated possession, coming at Arsenal in waves. But the visitors frustrated Pep Guardiola's men, including league-leading scorer Erling Haaland, with a textbook defensive display to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games.
Gabriel Jesus had Arsenal's best chances, firing two shots just wide in the first half and then narrowly failing to meet an inviting cross from Bukayo Saka.
City's best opportunity was Kevin De Bruyne's early corner kick that glanced off the shoulder of Nathan Ake but fell to keeper David Raya.
