Liverpool's Xabi Alonso reacts after his team missed a chance to score during their English Premier League soccer match against West Ham at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, yesterday. - AP

LIVERPOOL, England (AP):

Liverpool were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by West Ham yesterday, squandering a chance to pull away from Chelsea atop the Premier League.

The Reds still lead the standings by one point, but missed a host of chances as they failed to exploit Chelsea's surprise loss to Arsenal on Sunday and allowed West Ham to earn their first point at Anfield in nine years.

Sami Hyypia and Dirk Kuyt came close with first-half headers, while West Ham's Craig Bellamy twice threatened to inflict damage to his former club's title ambitions.

Freezing conditions

The third 0-0 draw of the season at Anfield came in freezing conditions against the stubborn Hammers, just nine days after Liverpool were held to the same result by Fulham.

Liverpool dominated possession and territory and Hyypia, who started in place of Daniel Agger, came close twice to breaking the deadlock in the first 20 minutes.

Having withstood the Liverpool onslaught, Bellamy came close to punishing his former side in the 37th. Pepe Reina was beaten by Bellamy's fierce shot from 30 yards, but it struck the inside of the post.

Bellamy provided another scare on the stroke of half-time, but Reina collected the ball this time.

Point-blank shot

In the opposite goal, Robert Green repelled Kuyt's shot from point-blank range.

The Liverpool pressure continued in the second half, with Benayoun's angled drive saved sublimely by Green.

Kuyt wasted a great opening after he headed past James Collins and nudged the ball further forward, unleashing a weak shot from distance rather than picking out Gerrard.