In a frustrating tactical battle, both teams effectively cancelled each other out with the visitors the happier to leave with a point on the day.
“We were playing against a top side and we played very well as a team,” said Mancini. “We didn’t concede any chances to Liverpool, which is important, but we didn’t really create any clear-cut chances ourselves.
They are a hard team to score goals against and a draw was the right result. It was a tough game and you get tackles like that in hard games, but for me, there were too many fouls.
...Roberto Mancini
With Tottenham and Aston Villa both winning, the gap between fourth and the seventh place is just two points as the battle for a Champions League place shifts up a gear.
“There are four teams who could end the season in fourth position and we must fight game after game because we have a good chance to be the fourth placed team,” said the City boss.
Mancini also revealed his striking options were virtually down to the bare bones against Liverpool, though he is hoping things will have eased by the weekend.
“I had a big problem,” he said. “Craig Bellamy had worked with the team only in the last two days, Roque Santa Cruz has had a problem with his knee and Carlos Tevez is still in Argentina.
“Carlos has been away eight days and I think it’s been difficult for him. I hope he will be back tomorrow or within the next two days.
“I spoke with him three days ago and he said he’d had a family problem that he has now resolved so I hope he will be back at least in time for the weekend because we need him.”
