Aguero's Anfield hoodoo continues as Man City register lowest possession under Pep

Sergio Aguero’s Anfield drought continues as Manchester City were held at their lowest possession figure yet in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola during a drab 0-0 draw with title rivals Liverpool.

Riyad Mahrez spurned a late penalty chance to hand the visitors victory at Anfield and though the result lifts City nominally back to the top of the league table, their performance was less than assured against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The decision to make five changes to the line-up that defeated Hoffenheim 2-1 in the Champions League midweek may have hindered City’s ability to create free-flowing attacks as they struggled for traction against a resilient Reds defence.

With only 51 percent of the ball against the team many see as their key threat to consecutive Premier League crowns, Guardiola’s team found it hard going, mustering only six shots throughout the entire game, with five of those in the second half alone.

The Sky Blues also managed only a single cross from open play after the break, compared to 11 made by the hosts.

As for Aguero, the City striker made the 10th appearance of his career at Anfield but once again was unable to find the back of the net.

The Argentina international has played eight times on Merseyside with the champions and a further two with Atletico Madrid, yet has never managed to get himself on the scoresheet.

The goalless encounter furthers Guardiola’s poor personal streak in managerial meetings with Klopp in all competitions; he has now won once against the former Borussia Dortmund boss in their last eight meetings, and has lost three of the last four.

The result ensures that both teams at least remain unbeaten this season in the Premier League; they will however rue their inability to open up a two-point gap against the other and fellow league leaders Chelsea at the summit.

Both teams now take a fortnight off for the international break, and resume their domestic campaigns on October 20.

City host Burnley at the Etihad Stadium while Liverpool travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield Town, before Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Red Star Belgrade respectively.