LONDON, Sept 13: Pepe Reina produced three excellent saves to help lethargic Liverpool earn a point from a goalless and somewhat predictable English Premier League draw at Birmingham City on Sunday.

Reina, whose horrible blunder gifted Argentina a goal in Spain’s 4-1 midweek friendly defeat, produced a man-of-the-match performance in an otherwise forgettable display by Liverpool, who have won only one of their opening four league games.

Birmingham, unbeaten at home in the league for almost year and with two draws and a win to from their opening three games, were the more adventurous side throughout, buoyed by their good recent record against Liverpool.

The teams’ previous six league meetings had been draws and though Liverpool chalked up a 7-0 FA Cup win at St Andrews in 2006 their last league victory over Birmingham came six years ago.

Reina made his first fine save after 25 minutes, diving low to keep out a Cameron Jerome header.

He reacted quickly to deny the same striker and produced a third terrific reaction stop to keep out Craig Gardner’s point-blank header late in the first half.

Birmingham missed another good chance early in the second half when woeful marking left Scott Dann free but his header bounced just over the bar.

Liverpool, with striker Fernando Torres looking badly off the pace, were slightly better in the second period but still barely fashioned a decent chance and already lag seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Manchester United conceded two dramatic stoppage-time goals as Everton staged a remarkable fightback to draw 3-3 on Saturday in a game Wayne Rooney missed to spare him from crowd abuse at his former club.

Michael Essien scored twice to inspire Chelsea to their fourth Premier League win in four matches. The champions strolled to a 3-1 victory at West Ham United, leaving their London rivals rooted to the foot of the table with no points.

Arsenal took full advantage of a red card for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill with a 4-1 home triumph.

Moussa Dembele’s second goal of the game, in the last minute, gave Fulham a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers that was soured by a broken leg for England striker Bobby Zamora.

Goalkeeper Matt Gilks was Man-of-the-Match as Blackpool continued an impressive start to their first top-flight season for 39 years with a 2-0 victory at Newcastle United.

Manchester City struggled again, held 1-1 at home by Blackburn Rovers. Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Modric joined the club’s growing injury list despite scoring in a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

There was a real buzz around Goodison Park with the news that United and England striker Rooney, at the centre of tabloid allegations over his private life, had been left out.

It looked to be a good decision as the visitors cruised into a 3-1 lead after goals by Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov had cancelled out Steven Pienaar’s 39th-minute opener for Everton.

However, in a breathless finale, Tim Cahill headed Everton’s second in the first minute of added time and Mikel Arteta kept his cool to rifle in the equaliser after spring-heeled Cahill had nodded down another Leighton Baines cross.

Soon after United trudged off the pitch in their lunchtime kickoff, Chelsea were already ahead at a West Ham side struggling under new boss and former Stamford Bridge manager Avram Grant.

The champions might have been handed a gentle start to the season fixture-wise but they have taken full advantage by winning all four games, scoring 17 goals and conceding one.

After Essien headed in a second-minute corner, goalkeeper Robert Green and defender Matthew Upson gifted Salomon Kalou a lucky second as the ball rebounded off him and looped into the net.

Essien doubled his tally with another late header – Didier Drogba claiming a hat-trick of assists – while Scott Parker’s superb volley was too little too late for the hosts.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Birmingham City 0 Liverpool 0

Played on Saturday:

Arsenal 4 Bolton Wanderers 1Everton 3 Manchester United 3Fulham 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1Manchester City 1 Blackburn Rovers 1Newcastle United 0 Blackpool 2West Bromwich 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1West Ham United 1 Chelsea 3Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 1—Reuters