Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham City: Gerrard Penalty Grabs Point For Reds

An incident-packed game at Anfield saw Liverpool rescue a point courtesy of a debateable penalty from Steven Gerrard after Birmingham City had came back from going behind early on to take the lead through goals by Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome.

The home side again started the game without their talismanic duo Steven Gerrard, and Fernando Torres and with Jamie Carragher also missing out through suspension and they were sluggish in the opening minutes at a subdued Anfield.

Indeed it took a full over 10 minutes before Rafael Benitez’s men found their stride. However, when they did it didn’t take long before the Birmingham goal was breached.

Glen Johnson, impressive throughout the first half down the right for Liverpool, was the instigator. Rampaging down the flank he slid in Yossi Benayoun with a fine pass but the Israeli couldn’t find a team-mate with a neat pull back that was instead claimed by Hart.

Seconds later and Hart was called into action yet again. A driving run by Javier Mascherano found David Ngog but the youngster could only shoot tamely at the City stopper from close range.

Yet it was to prove only a temporary reprieve for Alex McLeish’s men as moments later the Frenchman opened the scoring in emphatic style, but only after Hart had pulled off a tremendous double save.

Johnson, again, was the creator racing into the box and squaring for Ngog whose first-time shot was parried by Hart and into the path of Dirk Kuyt who was again denied by the goalkeeper. Yet just when it appeared that Liverpool had wasted the chance Riera picked up the loose ball crossed for Ngog to smash a superb left-footed volley into the back of net.

Confidence flooded through the home side and they could have had a second shortly afterwards with Riera and Insua setting up Kuyt but the Dutch international could only head over when well-placed.

The home side were threatening to double their lead  but, as has so often been the case this season they continue to look defensively vulnerable, and it was to prove their downfall once again as the visitors scored with their first effort on goal mid-way through the first half.

A free kick to the far post by James McFadden found an unmarked Roger Johnson who headed back across goal where the ball was flicked on by Liam Ridgewell to Christian Benitez who headed confidently past Reina to level the scores.


A deflated Anfield was stunned but the Merseysiders continued to dominate the play, Mascherano forcing Hart to tip a fizzing shot over the bar and only some last gasp defending by the Blues preventing Hart from having more work to do.

Yet despite their dominance, there were still a few warnings for Liverpool with a good break by McFadden and Cameron Jerome teeing up Benitez who couldn’t beat Reina.

With half-time approaching Steven Gerrard arrived for the hamstrung Albert Riera and whilst his presence lifted the crowd he couldn’t prevent Birmingham from taking the lead with a stunning strike.

A headed ball forward by Ridgewell found Jerome who controlled the ball, shrugged off the attentions of Mascherano before unleashing a superb shot from fully 30 yards which dipped over Reina to hand the visitors a shock lead at the break.

It took the Reds only three minutes of the second half to try their luck at goal, Gerrard setting up Lucas but the Brazilian’s shot was straight at Hart who claimed it at the second attempt.

Yet an increasingly frustrated home crowd then had to wait until the hour mark for their side’s next clear chance. More menace from Johnson down the right saw the full back cross for Gerrard whose header crashed against the outside of the post.

A goal seemed inevitable and with 20 minutes to go the pressure finally told after Lee Carsley was adjudged to have brought down Ngog in the box, a controversial decision as there appeared to be no contact between the players.

The Birmingham players were furious but Gerrard ignored the furore surrounding him and stepped up to calmly send Hart the wrong way and claim the equaliser.

The home side were now rampant, with Birmingham hanging on desperately, and Ngog and Gerrard both went close in a frantic final 10 minutes but ultimately could not make their dominance pay and they remain a distant seventh in the Premier League table.

Gill Clark, Goal.com

Get all the latest EPL action with Goal.com's England page.