Fevered uncertainty is not restricted to Westminster’s corridors of political power. Set against grim backdrops, filled with terrifying debt, all the talk by the Humber and the Mersey revolves around uneasy boardroom coalitions and potential leadership successions.

Fans of both persuasions here remained very much in the dark as to whether Iain Dowie and Rafael Benítez will be in charge of Hull City and Liverpool next season.

Despite being already relegated Hull fully deserved this point against a dispirited, disjointed Europa League bound Liverpool who, nonetheless, finish seventh.

Dowie’s teamsheet was surely intended as a manifesto. By including three youngsters in Mark Cullen, Will Atkinson and Tom Cairney, Hull’s temporary football management consultant seemed to be dropping a not so subtle hint that he is the right man to remodel Hull along vibrantly youthful lines next season.

Glossing over the alarming early moment in which Cairney very nearly scored a spectacular own goal, Dowie’s side – minus the, depending who you believed, dropped, or “slightly injured” Jimmy Bullard – could not be faulted for effort.

Hull are expected to sever ties with Phil Brown, currently on lucrative managerial gardening leave, this week when Dowie should also decide whether he will be staying or going.

Reservations surrounding the one time British aerospace engineer tend to centre on his somewhat workaholic approach to training which can leave players exhausted before they reach the pitch but many people within the KC believe Dowie should be given a longer term chance.

Players seemed strangely shy about seizing opportunities today. While Cullen failed to make the most of a couple of first half openings, Liverpool’s Nabil El Zhar saw a rising shot palmed away for a corner by Matt Duke.

Later El Zhar’s adroit pass provided Alberto Aquilani with an inviting opening but the Italian’s shot struck the crossbar.

At least Atkinson, up against Daniel Agger, Benítez’s left-back for a day in a remodelled Liverpool defence featuring Javier Mascherano at right-back, was supplying some neat touches on the wing.

Much to the relief of the mooted England returnee Jamie Carragher, one of Hull’s better crosses from the right eluded the visiting rearguard only for both Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and then Cullen to make hashes of polishing it off.

In front of Carragher, Steven Gerrard had reverted to a fairly deep lying central midfield role alongside Lucas Leiva. Although Liverpool have said they do not need to sell either Gerrard or their other prize asset, the currently injured Fernando Torres, Real Madrid are reported to be preparing a £30m bid for the England midfielder.

Gerrard can only hope no Spanish scouts were at the KC as this was one of those infuriating days when, bar the odd hallmark dynamic cameo, he proved strangely peripheral and largely ineffectual.

Despite displaying some pleasing touches Aquilana was withdrawn in the second half to choruses of “what a waste of money”.

Sadly far too much of the folding stuff has been squandered in both Hull and Liverpool for either club to be able to bodyswerve an impending age of austerity

Premier LeagueHull CityLiverpoolLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he is “clutching at straws” in the hope Manchester United can overtake Chelsea on the final bend of the season. He may have to lower those expectations should Vladimir Stojkovic stand between the Wigan posts and the destiny of the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

The Serbian international goalkeeper produced, in the kindest terms, an erratic display in the absence of the injured Chris Kirkland as Hull City’s relegation was mathematically sealed in stoppage time at the DW Stadium. Despite needing a six point and 24 goal swing over West Ham United to avoid the drop before kick off, Iain Dowie’s team – plus a sizable travelling support – refused to go quietly and should have taken survival to the final day with a first away win since March 2009.

Headed goals by Will Atkinson and Mark Cullen, the first after an erroneous offside decision was overturned by referee Phil Dowd and the second from an offside position that wasn’t identified, placed Hull on the cusp of their first away win for 425 days until Steve Gohouri’s overhead kick salvaged a draw for Wigan and sparked a mass pitch invasion. The Latics’ late joy will not be shared by anyone of an Old Trafford persuasion, however, as Wigan and Stojkovic in particular offered little to suggest they can spoil the coronation of Carlo Ancelotti’s team in west London next weekend.

Robert Martinez’s men – who have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal at the DW this season and deserve more respect than they have received since the league leader’s win at Anfield yesterday – had suggested the opposite in a dominant start that brought a first Wigan goal for Victor Moses. The talented winger cut inside two Hull defenders and sent a measured finish in off Matt Duke’s far post after being sent clear down the left following a mistake by George Boateng. But it was Stojkovic’s errors that altered the course of the contest.

The Wigan keeper, who once had a trial with Everton abruptly halted after just one training session, had already spread unease through his defence when he needlessly punched a harmless Boateng cross into the path of Kevin Kilbane. Two Hull strikers were offside when Kilbane crossed into the area but Atkinson arrived from an onside position to head beyond the static Serb. Dowd correctly overruled his assistant who had disallowed the goal for offside.

Hull’s second was offside, but this time there was no flag as Cullen ghosted in behind Mario Melchiot to glance another Boateng cross past Stojkovic. The ironic cheers whenever the Wigan keeper caught a cross – from his own supporters – must have sounded like a death-knell to Ferguson.

Premier LeagueWigan AthleticHull CityAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk