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When you look at the numbers – 35 shots (8 on goal), 78% time of possession, you’d miss the big picture, and the fact that Liverpool needed David N’Gog to dive and get an unjust penalty and for an ailing off the bench Steven Gerrard to save the drowning reds one point. Birmingham got out of their half, but still managed two goals in the first half, with the second of them a brilliant strike from Cameron Jerome.
Liverpool had the lead from N’Gog but a usual blunder in the back got Birmingham the equalizer (Benitez with his first league goal) and later on that wonderful strike from Jerome. Liverpool pressed, pushed and shoved, but only a bad call from Peter Walton denied Liverpool’s second loss at Anfield this season. So where does this game leave us? Liverpool are 7th, 11 points behind Chelsea and (seemingly) light years away from a title challenge. It’s Manchester City in 2 weeks. Birmingham? They got a bonus point, staying at 15th, with a long season and relegation battle ahead of them.
One response to “Liverpool Can’t Beat Birmingham City, Reds and Blues part with 2-2 Draw”
Again your heart sinks in despair for the smaller club when a somewhat dubious decision by the ref is given in favour to the bigger club and results in a penalty been given. There is no doubt that Carsley did not even touch Ngog. It’s a sad state of interaction when players may as well take up swimming than to play an honest game of football. The refs judgment is shocking in this case and completely wrong but he just goes with what he sees- obviously not that much. Liverpool were the stronger side the first half but that seemed to fade away in the second. Birmingham’s set piece was top notch to set up Benitez and the cracker by Jerome; you just can’t get much better than that from 30 odd yards out, brilliant. Okay the pressure was applied by Liverpool in the final minutes but Birmingham held on. Whether or not Liverpool deserved the draw with their over-all performance is debatable but to get it the way they did is shameful. As for Birmingham they can go away – yes gutted and robbed but at least with their heads held high in going to Anfield and getting the draw. Can Liverpool do the same – not a chance!