Liverpool and Manchester United played out a dull 0-0 draw and Michael Owen scored his first Newcastle United goal to help them beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the English Premier League on Sunday.
Newcastle notched their first win of the season with second-half goals by strikers Alan Shearer and Owen, who headed in a cross to find the net in his second game for his new club, and midfielder Charles N'Zogbia. There was little creative flair on show at Anfield, Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy missing the best opportunity just before halftime when he chipped the ball on to the top of the net from a tight angle.
Liverpool, the European champions, recorded their third draw in four league matches this season, while United slipped seven points behind champions Chelsea who won 2-0 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, their sixth successive victory.
United controlled the first half but failed to break down a packed Liverpool defence until moments before the interval when Van Nistelrooy ran on to a pass by defender Rio Ferdinand before lifting his shot over advancing goalkeeper Jose Reina and inches over the crossbar.
"The intensity of the game meant you could see it had 0-0 written all over it from early in the match," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We showed good professionalism and good composure but maybe lacked a bit of cutting edge."
Liverpool improved in the second half and their captain Steven Gerrard tested United keeper Edwin van der Sar with a fierce long shot.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, whose side have scored only one goal and conceded none in four league games, was satisfied with the performance.
"It was a tough game, two good teams and neither team created a lot of opportunities," the Spaniard said. "A draw was a fair result."
ESCAPED CARD
The match was littered with fouls and two players from each side were booked, though United's England striker Wayne Rooney, sent off in a Champions League match at Villarreal last week, escaped a yellow card.
Shearer put Newcastle ahead at his former club Blackburn with a rasping 20-metre shot just past the hour and Owen doubled the lead just four minutes later.
The England forward, who joined Newcastle from Real Madrid for more than 15 million pounds ($27.12 million) last month, escaped his marker at the near post and rose to head home N'Zogbia's pinpoint left-wing cross from six metres. Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was sent off after receiving his second yellow card but N'Zogbia added a third goal, sealing an emphatic win that lifted the north-east club out of the relegation zone and eased the pressure on their manager Graeme Souness.
Wigan Athletic face Middlesbrough and Manchester City play Bolton Wanderers later on Sunday. Arsenal host Everton on Monday.