Player Ratings: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

LIVERPOOL

Pepe Reina - 6 - Rarely called into action, but was safe as houses when he was. Left exposed again by his defense for City's goals.

Jamie Carragher - 7 - Booked early for a rash lunge on Bellamy but kept his head to produce a sound defensive performance at full-back.

Martin Skrtel - 8 - Handled Adebayor well, getting tight and refusing to let the Togolese striker turn. The Slovak then turned the contest with a close-range finish from Gerrard's free-kick.

Daniel Agger - N/A - Carried off inside the opening 10 minutes with a head injury.

Emiliano Insua - 7 - Coped well with Wright-Phillips, and grew in confidence. Perhaps a little slow to cover for Ireland's goal.

Lucas - 6 - Passed the ball reasonably well and competed as ever, booked harshly after a tangle with Tevez but the young Brazilian continues to improve.

Javier Mascherano - 7 - Set Liverpool's tempo with his closing down, and looks back to his best form.

Dirk Kuyt - 6 - Was too fond of the first-time pass in the first half especially, but put a solid shift in on the right.

Steven Gerrard - 7 - Visibly frustrated during a poor first half, but was always likely to produce a decisive moment, and his free-kick brought about Skrtel's goal. Faded as the game drew to a close.

Ryan Babel - 6 - Had started reasonably well but was forced off 18 minutes in with an ankle injury.

David Ngog - 6 - Looked full of confidence, his touch was fine and he held the ball up pretty well at times. Rarely a penalty box threat but a decent afternoon's work and he produced the assist for Benayoun's leveller.

SUBSTITUTES

Fabio Aurelio - N/A - Late arrival for a shattered Benayoun.

Yossi Benayoun - 7 - A surprise name among the substitutes, but was brought on early. Not at full tilt, though his composure and invention was as welcome as ever, and he popped up with a vital leveler at 2-2.

Sotiris Kyrgiakos - 7 - Early replacement for Agger, and slotted in well. Covered superbly, won his aerial battles and produced his best performance in a Liverpool shirt, though the nature of both City's goals will frustrate.

MANCHESTER CITY

Shay Given - 7 - One stunning save early on to deny Skrtel, but was not overly exerted afterwards. Helpless with either goal.

Pablo Zabaleta - 6 - Dallied a couple of times in possession but covered his centre-backs well, though it was his foul which led to the free-kick from which Liverpool opened the scoring.

Kolo Toure - 7 - Hampered by a thigh strain, but was competitive as ever and almost created a goal for Barry with a fine cross. Withdrawn at half-time.

Joleon Lescott - 7 - Headed everything that came his way, and was rarely second best.

Wayne Bridge - 6 - Inconsistent from one minute to the next, covered well but wasted the ball a few times and was targeted by Liverpool down their right-hand side.

Nigel De Jong - 7 - City's standout performer in the first half, their version of Mascherano mopped up everything and added composure to their play.

Gareth Barry - 6 - A performance of minimum fuss from the former Reds target, who lasted an hour before being sacrificed for Tevez.

Shaun Wright-Phillips - 7 - Wasteful at times, but he created Ireland's goal and looked lively in the second half especially.

Stephen Ireland - 7 - Saw plenty of the ball, and rarely wasted it, except for one poor ball at the end of a good break early in the second half. Took his only shooting chance clinically.

Craig Bellamy - 6 - Always lively, though Carragher dealt with him fairly well. Provided the assist for Adebayor's leveller.

Emmanuel Adebayor - 7 - Frustrating afternoon, the ball didn't stick when it went up to him, and it was he who lost Skrtel for the goal. Made amends after 68 minutes with a confident header from Bellamy's corner, and grew in confidence afterwards.

SUBSTITUTES

Nedum Onuoha - 6 - Half-time replacement for Toure, the youngster did well although was not stretched by Liverpool.

Neil Jones at Anfield, Goal.com