Liverpool, City share spoils

London - Manchester City went five points clear at the top of the English Premier League table after a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool on Sunday.

City grabbed the lead after the half hour mark when captain Vincent Kompany glanced in a header from a David Silva corner.

But just two minutes later Liverpool were level when Kompany's clearance from the edge of the area found Dirk Kuyt and the Dutchman laid the ball into the path of the advancing Charlie Adam.

The Scotland international didn't strike the ball cleanly but his shot took a huge deflection off City defender Joleon Lescott for an own-goal that left England goalkeeper Joe Hart wrong-footed.

City were reduced to 10 men with eight minutes left when striker Mario Balotelli was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Both sides had chances in the second half but neither could force a winner and in stoppage time Hart saved Liverpool substitute striker Andy Carroll's goal-bound header.

This result left City five points in front of local rivals Manchester United after the reigning champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle on Saturday.

However, the City match was overshadowed by the announcement earlier in the day of the death of Wales manager Gary Speed at the age of 42.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish withdrew Craig Bellamy, a close friend of Speed's, from his squad before kick-off as he did not feel the Wales striker would be in the correct frame of mind to play.

Both at Anfield and at the Liberty Stadium, where promoted Swansea drew 0-0 with Aston Villa in the day's other Premier League match, a minute's silence in memory of Speed was observed before kick-off.