Liverpool 1 Manchester City 1: Manchester City remain unbeaten in the Premier League — but only just and they have goalkeeper Joe Hart to thank after a compelling contest with Liverpool at Anfield yesterday.

He made a string of fantastic saves to earn his side a 1-1 draw that could prove vital in their title bid this season. No wonder all the City players rushed to congratulate the England number one when the final whistle blew.

Second-half substitute Mario Balotelli wasn't one of them. He was sulking and slamming doors in the visiting dressing room after an 83rd minute red card that allowed Kenny Dalglish's side to pile on the pressure in the latter stages.

Controversy continues to surround the Italian striker. Remember that tee-shirt he wore during City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford? “Why always me?” Because you are a stupid boy Mario, that's why.

You could argue that the second booking he received from referee Martin Atkinson after crashing into Martin Skrtel was debatable, but it was a needless challenge, especially since he was walking a tightrope having been cautioned earlier for a silly foul on Glen Johnson.

Entering the pitch on 65 minutes, one sensed Balotelli's attitude was all wrong. And so it proved.

Lucky for City and boss Roberto Mancini, on his 47th birthday, Hart did everything right. He could do nothing about Liverpool's 33rd minute equaliser — which came quickly after Vincent Kompany's opener for City — when Charlie Adam's long range effort diverted off Joleon Lescott into the net, but from that moment nothing got past him.

All season goalkeepers have performed heroics at Anfield. None better though than the brilliant Hart, who joined City from Shrewsbury Town five years ago.

Just moments after Lescott's own goal, the City ace made a superb save to deny Adam. In the second-half he kept out Stewart Downing and Luis Suarez and followed those stops up with a blinding double save in the final seconds, firstly clawing away one handed a goalbound Andy Carroll header and then producing a razor sharp reaction to keep Suarez at bay from the rebound.

It was thrilling stuff and a mighty relief for table toppers City to make it 13 league games without defeat, ending the weekend five points clear of Manchester United.

For Liverpool, while satisfied with another excellent display against a big side — this was the first time City haven't scored twice in their domestic campaign — there will be frustration that once again the Reds couldn't turn their dominance into victory.

That's five draws out of seven at Anfield this season. Not good enough when you are chasing a Champions League spot.

With Craig Bellamy understandably grieving over the passing of his friend and Welsh boss Gary Speed, Dalglish flooded the midfield meaning a place on the bench for Andy Carroll, who scored twice in a 3-0 win over City last season. That left Suarez up front on his own. It doesn't matter if he has a strike partner or not, he creates havoc for the opposition, though Liverpool's tactics were a huge compliment to City, who with David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri in from the start, largely controlled proceedings in the first half hour.

Certainly there was no hangover from Tuesday's defeat in Napoli, which has left City on the brink of Champions League elimination.

Mancini saw his men men took the lead on 31 minutes with captain Kompany, booked earlier for a rash challenge on Suarez and fortunate to be on the pitch at the end, displaying great desire to glance home Silva's dangerous corner at the near post. It wasn't so much a header, more of a shoulder from Kompany, but no one in blue was bothered by that. They were in control of the match.

Two minutes later the equaliser changed the complexion with the home players and fans gaining belief. Lucas, Jose Enrique and Suarez led a controlled charge and while City looked dangerous on the break — even after Balotelli's dismissal Silva had an effort cleared off the line — Liverpool should have won.

That they didn't was down to City's sensational goalkeeper in a frantic finale. It truly was Hart stopping stuff.