Manager Rafael Benitez talked beforehand of needing two wins to secure third place, but his team seem intent on doing it the hard way.

With Arsenal winning, beating fifth-placed Bolton, both Liverpool and the Gunners are virtually assured of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

But Liverpool bored a sun-drenched crowd with this performance, clearly a hangover from their qualification for the Champions League semi-finals in midweek.

City, now five games unbeaten, are clear of relegation and came closest to ending the deadlock when DaMarcus Beasley hit the bar in the closing stages.

They have had a dreadful season and will take some comfort from this result. Liverpool just did the job, kept another clean sheet, and left with a point.

City were unchanged side from the side that beat Fulham last time out, a result that surely ended fears of relegation.

Since then manager Stuart Pearce has been concentrating on trying to sort out new contracts for the likes of Sylvain Distin, Michael Ball, Nedum Onuoha and Emile Mpenza, his own future seemingly a lot safer now.

Liverpool have loftier aims on their minds, a possible second Champions League final in three seasons, but they still want to finish third and above Arsenal for the second successive season.

They recalled Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano after being rested for the Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven, skipper Gerrard given an attacking role in support of lone striker Dirk Kuyt.

But football took a back seat for a few moments before the start. With the anniversary of Hillsborough this weekend, the Liverpool fans had their familiar "justice" flags on display, and City's Liverpool-born midfielder Joey Barton pointedly ran to the away fans' section and placed flowers in front of a giant "Justice for the 96" banner.

Then Liverpool, wearing black armbands, were instantly on the attack and could have had a penalty on five minutes when Jermaine Pennant found himself clear in the box, only to be tugged back by Ball.

Referee Uriah Rennie ignored the offence, enraging Benitez on the line.

But City were spirited and playing with a freedom not seen while they were haunted by the drop. A long ball was then poorly dealt with by Alvaro Arbeloa, allowing Mpenza a free run. But the Spanish full-back managed to recover with a crucial tackle.

It was Mpenza again on 11 minutes, getting onto the end of a Darius Vassell cross to head inches wide.

Distin produced a fine saving lunge to stop a John Arne Riise cross reaching Kuyt, while Riise lashed an 18-yard shot wide. But City moved forward with confidence.

Mpenza, who has scored vital goals to win games of late to ease the tensions at Eastlands, produced strong and clever movement and he was worrying Carragher, while Barton's driving runs from midfield were equally effective.

And when Liverpool failed to clear a corner properly, Beasley hammered a drive just over the bar.

Liverpool were looking for the more patient build-up, but the closest they came in the opening half was from a Pennant corner on 31 minutes, the ball eluded Kuyt a yard out, leaving Carragher to blast the ball into the side-netting.

Liverpool needed more sharpness about their play and movement, and one cross early in the second period from Finnan, and a solid header over from Gerrard, suggested greater urgency.

Gerrard drove in another effort and Riise cracked a 20-yard shot inches wide of the far post, but when a Gerrard header put Kuyt away, his lack of pace allowed three defenders to catch him.

Daniel Agger and Pennant ventured forward for long-range efforts that flew wide, Liverpool finding it hard to penetrate a well-organised, deep, City defence.

Xabi Alonso, whose passing game was way off beam, got himself booked for a foul on Barton before Stephen Ireland was sent on in place of Mpenza on the hour. Vassell taking up a more central role.

Next into the book was Finnan for a foul on Onuoha, with Liverpool sending on Mark Gonzalez for Riise on 64 minutes. Pennant almost set up Kuyt, Richard Dunne intervening.

Then Barton was booked for a two-footed tackle on Gerrard on 68 minutes.

Then on 73 minutes the fans were treated to a rarity, a decent shot on goal, Beasley hitting the Liverpool bar after a corner was poorly cleared.

Benitez then opted for the aerial threat of Crouch on 74 minutes, taking off Pennant. City replaced Vassell with Bernardo Corradi with eight minutes left, their late surge producing a string of corners and set-pieces.

Bolo Zenden took over from Mascherano soon after, but there was a big shout from the City fans for handball when a Ball long-throw seemed to drop onto Carragher's arm.