Defenders only winners as Roma held by Liverpool

AS Roma and English premier league leaders Liverpool drew 0-0 in a largely disappointing Champions League Group B match on Wednesday.

The result leaves Roma with two points from the opening two games while Liverpool have just a single point.

In a game of few chances, Liverpool's best opportunity came in the first half when Emile Heskey shot wide after Roma keeper Francesco Antonioli had failed to claim a high ball in the area.

Roma's Brazilian midfielder Emerson then forced a good save out of Liverpool Jerzy Dudek in the 32nd minute with a well-struck snap-shot.

The Italians were on top after the break but the nearest they came to breaking the deadlock was a free-kick from substitute Marcos Assuncao which flew narrowly past Dudek's right-hand post.

As Roma increased the pressure in the latter stages. A strike from midfielder Francisco Lima almost sneaked under Dudek's body and Assuncao forced another save out of the Polish keeper with a fierce strike in injury time.