MARK HUGHES does not believe his Manchester City side have ended the race for the championship – but admits Liverpool are now reliant on Manchester United slipping up.

City did their neighbours a favour by earning a surprise 1-1 draw at Anfield yesterday.

Dirk Kuyt’s 78th-minute equaliser ensured Craig Bellamy’s deflected goal off Alvaro Arbeloa four minutes after the interval did not consign Liverpool to only their second league defeat of the campaign. But the result means Rafael Benitez’s side now stand seven points adrift of leaders United, who are now clear favourites to lift a third successive title.

However, former Old Trafford striker Hughes reckons Liverpool cannot be written off while accepting it will be a difficult task for the Anfield outfit.

Asked if the title race was over, the City manager said: “No. There are still games to go and Liverpool can still come back, but they are probably looking at United slipping up now and they don’t do that very often.

“It’s not going to be in Liverpool’s hands now.”

Hughes was delighted with his team’s performance and claimed there could have been no complaints had City held for what would have been only their second victory at Anfield in their last 18 visits.

“We deserved the point,” said Hughes. “It was an excellent performance, there was drive and purpose to what we did and we were good value for the goal.

“Maybe their equaliser came when we were quite comfortable. We were disappointed not to get three points as our level of performance merited it. But to get a point at a title-chasing team was an excellent performance. We were strong and resolute especially at the end when the expected pressure came. A draw was the least we deserved.”

Bellamy’s goal would have been his fourth against a former club this season but a first-ever career strike against Liverpool. Although for now it has officially been credited as an Arbeloa own goal.

The Wales international spent the 2006-07 season at Anfield and scored nine times in 42 appearances before leaving for West Ham United, from whom he joined City last month.

And Hughes said: “You always get players who have been at a former club wanting to do well, Craig is no exception. He’s a proud man and probably feels he wasn’t given a fair crack of the whip here.

“There’s no doubting his ability, he’s an outstanding player and he’s done very well since he joined us.

“Nigel de Jong was also outstanding and it’s almost certainly his best game since he arrived here. People can now understand why I brought him here. I thought Robinho was excellent. His contribution was very good. Technically he’s very accomplished and people understand that if you give him the ball he can retain it.”