Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Liverpool missed out on the chance to go three points clear at the top of the Premiership, lacking invention and imagination in being held to a goalless draw at Anfield.

Without Torres, and with Gerrard misfiring, Liverpool showed the same absence of inspiration that cost Chelsea against Arsenal.

The real winners from this weekend have been Man Utd – purring to within six points of the leaders with a game in hand.

But, if you had said to Rafa Benitez and all scousers (minus Everton fans obviously) that they would be a point clear going into December, they would have bitten your hand off.

Something tells you, though, that with Rooney, Berbatov and Ronaldo, and a fresh Tevez straining at the leash, its Utd who are best equipped to continue to find goals and points easiest to come by over a packed festive period.