United title hopes hit by draw at Blackburn

Manchester United suffered a third major blow in eight days yesterday when a 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers damaged their hopes of claiming a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

United, who went out of the Champions League on away goals to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, failed to break down a resolute Rovers side which means they remain stuck behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more.

Chelsea have 74 points from 33 games while United have 73 from 34 games. Arsenal are still in the hunt with 71 points.

Liverpool's ambitions of Champions League football next season look all but over after they drew 0-0 with fellow Europa League semi-finalists Fulham at Anfield, while Manchester City beat Birmingham City 5-1 to maintain their bid for fourth place.

Roberto Mancini's City side stay in the fourth and final Champions League spot on 62 points after 33 games, four ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who have played one less.

In the day's third goalless stalemate Wolves eked out another point in their bid to retain their top-flight status, drawing at home to Stoke.

United manager Alex Ferguson made six changes to the side who started the fruitless 3-2 win at home to Bayern on Wednesday with Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda up front and Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes also included.

However, with leading scorer Wayne Rooney missing after re-injuring his ankle on Wednesday, United were toothless as for the seventh time this season they dropped vital league points in the match following a midweek Champions League fixture.

"It's going to be very, very difficult to win this league now," Ferguson told the club website.

"We'll have a lifeline if Chelsea blow it, but in their eyes they have an easy game against Bolton on Tuesday."

The visitors' problems increased late on with defender and England World Cup captain Rio Ferdinand dislocating a finger and then limping through the final minutes with a groin injury.

United's neighbours City had a far more useful afternoon with an entertaining victory over ninth-placed Birmingham.

After a tepid opening, four goals in under six first-half minutes illuminated the match. A foul on Emmanuel Adebayor allowed Carlos Tevez to give the hosts the lead from the penalty spot on 38 minutes and Nedum Onuoha quickly headed a second, which took a touch off Tevez's boot.

The visitors hit back on 42 minutes when Cameron Jerome was left all alone inside the box to head home, only for Adebayor to immediately score at the other end after a rapid breakaway.

After the interval, Onuoha and Adebayor wrapped up the win with two smart finishes to add some glamour to the scoreline.

Injured Spain striker Fernando Torres was badly missed as Liverpool were held at home by resolute Fulham - a result that leaves them in sixth place, two points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who have two games in hand.