Liverpool 2-2 Man City

Liverpool and Manchester City fought out a draw at Anfield that failed to provide compelling evidence to support the claims of either club to finish in the Premier League's top four.

The game sparked to life with four second-half goals after a first 45 minutes that was a monument to mediocrity - but both Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez and his Manchester City counterpart Mark Hughes will see a draw as two points lost.
 
Liverpool had already lost Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel to injury when Martin Skrtel turned in Steven Gerrard's free-kick to give them the lead after 50 minutes. 
 
But City, encouraged by Liverpool's apparent willingness to sit back on their advantage and enlivened by the belated introduction of Carlos Tevez for Gareth Barry, levelled on 69 minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor headed home from Craig Bellamy's corner.
 
Stephen Ireland's close-range finish, converted as Liverpool waited in vain for offside, gave City a lead they barely deserved, but they were then guilty of a loss of concentration as Yossi Benayoun turned in David Ngog's deflected cross to make sure the points were shared.
 
Lucas wasted a glorious chance to give Liverpool victory deep into stoppage time when he rose unmarked to meet Gerrard's corner, only to head wide.
 
It ensured City, who lost captain Kolo Toure injured at half-time extended their recent sequence to six successive Premier League draws, equalling their top-flight record set in 1913.
 
And for Liverpool, it was the latest day of frustration in front of their own fans at Anfield - compounded by another lengthening of their injury list.
 
City had hoped to use a visit to Liverpool to confirm their credentials as genuine challengers to the Premier League's established order, but a lifeless first hour and the resurfacing of defensive frailties demonstrated there is still much work to do.
 
Liverpool captain Gerrard, as expected, was fit after the groin injury that has troubled him recently, but once again Fernando Torres was ruled out by a hernia.
 
City boss Hughes left Tevez on the bench - and how the visitors cried out for his industry and inspiration in a turgid opening 45 minutes.
 
Liverpool had the first chance to make a breakthrough after only six minutes, but Skrtel's header was turned to safety by Shay Given after Gerrard's delivery had flicked off the head of Kolo Toure.
 
It proved to be an expensive moment for Liverpool as Agger clashed heads with Toure in the incident and was stretchered off with concussion, forcing Benitez to introduce Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
 
As if Liverpool's injury list was not long enough, Babel then saw a rare Anfield start curtailed by a foot injury after he accidentally collided with Gerrard on the edge of the City penalty area. He attempted to continue but eventually limped off, to be replaced by Benayoun.
 
Gerrard, predictably, was providing Liverpool's best hope and he almost enlivened the grim proceedings with a rising shot that flew over in front of an expectant Kop.
 
City, for all their lavish spending, were woefully short of attacking ideas, with Shaun Wright-Phillips being particularly wasteful in possession. He had their best opportunity ten minutes before the interval when he was played in just inside the Liverpool area, but he failed to hit the target.
 
City suffered an injury blow themselves when captain Toure failed to appear at the start of the second half, with Nedum Onuoha coming on.
 
And their problems increased after 50 minutes when Skrtel took advantage of poor City defending - an Achilles heel this season - to give Liverpool the lead.
 
Pablo Zabaleta was penalised for fouling Ngog, and when Gerrard's free-kick was swerved in with menace, Skrtel got ahead of Adebayor to apply the crucial final touch.
 
City boss Hughes, having watched in frustration as his side failed to make any impact on Liverpool's re-shaped defence, made a change on the hour when he sent on Tevez for Barry.
 
Liverpool had helped City's cause by appearing to sit back on their lead, and they paid the penalty in familiar fashion after 69 minutes.
 
Adebayor was allowed to rise unhindered and direct Bellamy's corner past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, to the obvious disgust of Benitez in the technical area and delight of Hughes.
 
And the turnaround was complete with 14 minutes left as Ireland stole in on a cross from Wright-Phillips from a suspiciously offside position to put City ahead - but as their fans celebrated there was another swift twist in the tale.
 
Ngog's cross took a deflection that took Given out of position, allowing Benayoun to slide in at the far post and score with the simplest of finishes.
 
Liverpool held sway in the closing stages and forced a succession of corner, with Lucas heading a presentable chance wide with virtually the final action of a game that sparked into life after the break.
 
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