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A controversial penalty by Steven Gerrard
salvaged a draw for Liverpool as their faltering season continued
against Birmingham at Anfield.
Gerrard scored from the spot to make it 2-2 after David Ngog had
appeared to dive over a Lee Carsely tackle.
Ngog had earlier put the Reds ahead when he smashed in a far
post volley but Christian Benitez levelled when he nodded in a
well-worked set piece.
Cameron Jerome's 30-yard strike shocked the Reds before
Gerrard's equaliser.
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Birmingham will be furious at the penalty given by referee Peter
Walton as Carsley did not seem to make any contact with Ngog as the
under siege visitors valiantly kept the Reds at bay.
However, despite a half-fit Gerrard, who had only come on
because of an injury to Albert Riera, slotting in from 12 yards the
result will only heap further pressure on Reds manager Rafael
Benitez after a game Liverpool were expected to win.
Liverpool's defensive solidity has been their strength in
Benitez's reign but the foundations he has laid have been on rocky
ground this season and again undermined their play.
The home side took a patient and calm approach to the match
before gradually raising the tempo and taking the lead.
Glen Johnson was having plenty of joy down the right flank and,
after weaving between two defenders, he pulled the ball back for
Ngog, whose initial shot was saved by Joe Hart.
Hart scampered across his goal to fend away Dirk Kuyt's
follow-up but the Blues keeper had no chance when Riera crossed to
the far post where Ngog smashed a left-foot volley into the roof of
the net.
The Reds seemed in control only to let their weakness at the
back let the visitors back into a game they rarely looked like
making an impact on.
Former Everton midfielder James McFadden swung a Blues free-kick
to the far post and, after being headed on by Roger Johnson and
Scott Dann, Christian Benitez nodded in from close range.
The goal had given Birmingham encouragement and the visitors had
an extra air of belief about them as they repelled some concerted
Liverpool pressure as the home side looked to re-establish their
grip on the game.
Hart tipped over a 25-yard strike from Javier Mascherano before
the Blues defence cleared a tamely struck Lucas Leiva sidefooted
15-yard shot off the line.
Liverpool brought Gerrard on when Riera went off with a
hamstring problem but their half-fit captain could do little as the
visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Jerome controlled Dann's head ball forward, fended off the
irritation of Mascherano and unleashed a thunderous shot which
dipped over keeper Reina.
The Reds piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attack
and it almost paid off only for Gerrard to head a Glen Johnson
cross against the outside of the post from eight yards.
Birmingham defended in numbers with a bravery which saw the
likes of centre-backs Scott Dann and Roger Johnson flinging their
bodies at crosses and shots to keep the home side at bay.
However, they conceded an equaliser in controversial
circumstances as Gerrard sent hart the wrong way from the spot.
The Anfield crowd were now staunchly behind their team and Ngog
sidefooted wide after Gerrard powered in a cross to the near post
but a winner eluded the Reds as they stay seventh in the Premier
League.