LIVERPOOL, England - Aston Villa missed the chance to go level at the top of the Premier League when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park on Jan 14, as they dominated possession but were unable to break down a stubborn home side.

Villa moved to 43 points from 21 games, level with second-placed Manchester City, but two behind league leaders Liverpool. Both those clubs have played a game fewer. Everton are now a point clear of the relegation zone with 17 from their 21 matches.

The visitors had several chances to open the scoring, but the best opportunity in the game fell to Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin when he raced clear one-on-one with Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, but had his effort saved.

Both sides had goals correctly chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee for offside and Everton will be the happier with the point, while Villa manager Unai Emery may well view it as a missed opportunity and two dropped after his first 0-0 draw in 97 games in the Premier League.

It is the longest a manager has gone in the competition’s history before being involved in a goalless draw.

“I think we played well and we are a little frustrated because we created the chances to score, but I’m happy with 43 points,” Emery told Sky Sports.

“The match we played today, we tried to push our game-plan and find good positions on the pitch. They (Everton) had a few chances and we needed our goalkeeper to save us.

“But the second half we had much better control of the game and did not concede anything, and we had three or four chances to score.

“I’m very proud of the players and how we are trying to improve our level. We are not happy with one point only, but we are happy with the way we played.”

Villa thought they had taken the lead when Alex Moreno’s superb strike from outside the box arrowed into the bottom corner, but it was chalked off by the VAR for an offside in the build-up.

It took more than three minutes to make the decision, during which time both sets of supporters chanted in unison their displeasure at the use of the VAR system.

Martinez also saved from James Garner, diving low to his left, while at the other end Matty Cash saw his goal-bound effort blocked and John McGinn’s follow-up was cleared off the line.

“We played OK,” Everton defender James Tarkowski told the BBC. “I’m just glad it’s (the VAR decision) gone our way, not many have this season. We had the best opportunity through Dominic.

“We are still building and working towards where we want to be and our job is to keep putting points on the board.”

Captain Seamus Coleman made his 355th appearance in the Premier League for Everton, a club record. REUTERS