Watch FULL MATCH REPLAYS & more via MUTV 24/7 on beIN SPORTS | Sign up to take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL here | AU | NZ

After Nottingham Forest lost 2-1 to Aston Villa and Chelsea drew 0-0 with Brentford, City arrived at Old Trafford knowing a victory would provide a major boost to its hopes of Champions League qualification.

But Pep Guardiola's team struggled to create chances against a well-drilled United backline, with its only attempt of note in the first half being a wayward drive from Phil Foden.

The best chance of the opening period fell to Alejandro Garnacho, but when picked out unmarked by Diogo Dalot, the Argentine failed to make proper contact with his header.

Foden squandered City's clearest opening early in the second half, shooting well wide under pressure from Noussair Mazraoui, while an Omar Marmoush free-kick drew a good save from Andre Onana.

But United would get the best chance to claim three points, when Garnacho scampered down the left to tee up substitute Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee sent a left-footed shot looping towards the far corner, but Ederson was equal to the challenge, clawing it away to preserve City's clean sheet.

The draw leaves City fifth in the table, one point adrift of Chelsea and one ahead of Villa, though Newcastle United could leapfrog it with victory at Leicester City on Tuesday.

United, meanwhile, goes back above Tottenham and into 13th, seven points adrift of the top half.