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Stoke City earned a deserved point against Liverpool as the Premier League leaders produced a lifeless performance at the Britannia Stadium.

Rory Delap came closest to breaking the deadlock for Stoke early on when he rattled the bar from close range – and Liverpool could have had no complaints if Tony Pulis’ side had claimed all three points.

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But captain Steven Gerrard almost snatched the win Liverpool’s display barely merited when he angled a free-kick against the bar with six minutes left, then struck a post in stoppage time.

Liverpool never exerted any serious dominance over Stoke, failing to increase the pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The game was played out in a typically vibrant atmosphere at the Britannia – and against the backdrop of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez’s public tirade against his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson.

But his players failed to follow his defiant words with actions, leaving both Manchester United and Chelsea with the opportunity to close in on Liverpool.

THIS SEASON’S REVERSE FIXTURE

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City

20 September 2008 – Ref: Andre Marriner