*Liverpool and Aston Villa played out a cagey goalless draw at Villa Park.* John Carew was denied by the feet of Pepe Reina, while David Ngog shot just over the bar after being set up by Robbie Keane in a dour first half. Keane was put clean through by Javier Mascherano after the break but scuffed his shot wide when in front of goal. Substitute James Milner had a late chance to wrap up all three points on his return to the club, but Reds keeper Pepe Reina saved comfortably. With Chelsea held by Tottenham, Liverpool had the chance to go top of the league on a ground where they have enjoyed plenty of success over the years. But it was a Liverpool performance desperately short of creativity and in the end they were left hanging on for the point. Gareth Barry’s bitter on-off transfer saga over the summer meant there would be extra spice to the clash. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez and his opposite number Martin O’Neill shared a polite handshake before the game, but it seemed both were more concerned with avoiding defeat than going for the three points. Liverpool’s attack was already looking blunt when they lost Fernando Torres to injury inside the first half hour. The Spanish striker appeared to tweak his hamstring when chasing down a poor pass from Mascherano. His replacement Ngog could have broken the deadlock just before half-time when he was teed-up by Keane, but he shot over under pressure from Martin Laursen. Other than that half-chance Liverpool were barely a threat on the Villa goal in the opening 45 minutes. The ineffective Lucas fired well into the stands, Xabi Alonso attempted to lob ex-Reds keeper Brad Friedel from just inside his own half and Dirk Kuyt drilled into the side-netting. Villa were the much more fluent side, with Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carew offering pace and creativity. Carew had their best chance after Barry had slipped in a probing pass for Ashley Young, who cut it back for the Norwegian but his tentative sidefoot shot was easily saved by Reina’s feet. Both sides picked up the pace in the second half, with Liverpool starting more brightly and Kuyt threatening from an Alonso corner only to be muscled off the ball by Curtis Davies. Andrea Dossena saw his powerful shot deflected off target by Nicky Shorey’s body, while at the other end of the pitch Stiliyan Petrov flashed a shot just past the post. Mascherano released Keane through on goal but he mis-hit his shot, although credit must go to Nigel Reo-Coker for brilliantly tracking back to put him off. Milner had the chance to mark his return to Villa Park with the winner, but his curling effort was too close to Reina. In the dying stages Laursen had a free header from close range but could not direct it on target. It ensured Aston Villa’s first goalless draw in over a year and means they have only picked up five points at home to Liverpool out of a possible 33.