Liverpool surrendered their advantage in the race for Champions League football once again after failing to score in a goalless draw against bogey side Southampton for the fourth time this season.
It all came down to a battle between two ex-Newcastle players ... Fraser Forster and James Milner.
Forster gave Milner a "piece of advice" before he took the penalty, and it certainly got into Milner's head.
James Milner's first penalty failure in more than seven years proved decisive as the Saints proved adept at denying their opponents - as they had done in the reverse league encounter and the two-legged EFL Cup semi-final in January.
Liverpool's goal drought against the south-coast club now stands at 428 minutes since Daniel Sturridge scored in the 22nd minute of a 3-2 defeat at St Mary's in March last year.
Although the point lifted Liverpool into third it left them susceptible to being caught by fifth-placed United, who kicked off later in the day five points behind with two matches in hand, but United's 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium puts the Merseysiders' destiny back in their own hands.
Liverpool midfielder James Milner apologised to his team-mates after his penalty miss.
I've been around long enough not to let that worry me," he said on Sky Sports 1.
"I did what I wanted to do - obviously it was not good enough on this occasion.
"Fraser's a good 'keeper. I can't do any more than hold my hands up and apologise to the boys.
"They're a tough team to break down. The pitch was a bit sticky at times so it was hard to move it as fast as we like. We didn't play as well as we would have liked. Again, we have to take responsibility for that.
"With these games, we knew what we had to do and we haven't done it. But you can't create more chances than have a penalty - ultimately that was the big chance and it wasn't taken.
"There are two games left - we have to go and win them and see if that's good enough."