Premier League round-up
Rivals draw as Villa, Blackburn and Fulham all win
Rivals draw as Villa, Blackburn and Fulham all win
Manchester City and Liverpool cancelled each other out as Aston Villa boosted their UEFA Champions League prospects by thumping Burnley.
Blackburn Rovers enjoyed a derby win over Bolton Wanderers and Fulham snatched a last-gasp victory at home to Birmingham City.The much-anticipated battle between City and Liverpool turned into a damp squib of an affair after a wretched 0-0 draw at the City of Manchester Stadium.
In what was hardly a ringing endorsement for the quality of the Premier League, the game's only notable highlight was Pepe Reina's flying save to push away Emmanuel Adebayor's shot in the second half.
Aston Villa produced a devastating four-goal blitz in the second half to crush struggling Burnley 5-2 at Villa Park.
Burnley, with just one point on their travels this season, took a shock lead on 10 minutes when the unmarked Steven Fletcher slotted home, but Villa levelled on 32 minutes when Ashley Young's cross-shot fizzed through Danny Fox's legs and beyond Brian Jensen.
The visitors then collapsed in the second period as Stewart Downing drove home on 56 minutes and the England winger then saw his shot deflect off Fox and past Jensen two minutes later.
Just past the hour mark, Emile Heskey turned home a cross from Agbonlahor, who scored Villa's fifth goal from close range on 68 minutes by diverting in James Milner's low centre.
The Clarets did have the final say in the contest when substitute Martin Paterson scored his first goal of the season in the second minute of stoppage-time.
Fulham moved level on points with Birmingham in the Premier League table as Bobby Zamora's late screamer clinched a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage.
Birmingham had taken the lead in comical circumstances after just three minutes when Chris Baird, under no pressure, planted a header from Lee Bowyer's cross past his own keeper Mark Schwarzer.
However, Fulham drew level with a goal of genuine class just before the hour mark when Damien Duff exchanged passes with Zoltan Gera before rifling a 25-yard drive in off the upright.
And the Cottagers' comeback was completed in the final minute when Zamora fired home a stunning free-kick with his left foot.
Blackburn's impressive home form continued as a convincing 3-0 win over local rivals Bolton edged Sam Allardyce's side closer to securing their Premier League status.
The hosts were in front on 41 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen nodded Junior Hoilett's pass into the path of Nikola Kalinic, whose drilled shot took a slight deflection on its way past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Rovers increased the lead on 72 minutes when Ricardo Gardner's attempted clearance only put Bolton under further pressure and substitute Jason Roberts steered his shot past Jaaskelainen after the ball had been lofted back into the box.
Blackburn, who have lost just twice at home all season in the league, completed a comfortable win six minutes from time when Gael Givet stole in ahead of his marker to glance El Hadji Diouf's cross from the left inside the far post.