Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham City Match Report: The Daily Mirror verdict

The fog hat swirled off the Mersey to engulf Anfield last night still lingered at the end of this tense, nervy contest.

AS a metaphor for Liverpool’s situation, it was perfect. The gloom had dissipated somewhat by the end, but not entirely, not even after Rafael Benitez’s side finally got an outrageous slice of the good fortune their manager previously complained, bitterly, has been absent all season.

One win now in their last nine matches means that there will still be pointed questions asked of the Spanish coach and his team. Yet there were signs that the fog of crisis IS lifting for the Anfield club, even if they needed a blatant bit of gamesmanship from their young striker David Ngog to help.

For a start, for all the disappointment of dropping two points at home against a Birmingham side they are expected to beat, they created enough chances to have won comfortably, and on another day would have buried their visitors without the help of a dubious - make that appalling - penalty.

And perhaps more importantly, even if they remain 11 points behind leaders Chelsea, the chill night air was warmed by the sight of skipper Steven Gerrard striding from the substitutes’ bench to take possession once more of the captain’s armband, and immediately provide the leadership that has been sadly lacking in recent weeks.

It was Gerrard who orchestrated the comeback after Birmingham had shocked the home side with two goals just before half time to shatter fragile Liverpool confidence and set the alarm bells ringing once more.

It was Gerrard who hit the post with a brilliant, brave header, and it was he who drove down the right to cross for Ngog and provide the chance to win the game the youngster was unlucky to see flash the wrong side of the post. It was him who courageously stepped forward to convert the penalty for an equaliser under huge pressure.

Most importantly, it was the skipper who roused not just a crowd who greeted his introduction with a rabid welcome, but team-mates too, who were visibly lifted by the arrival of the cavalry of their talisman. When stand-in skipper Dirk Kuyt handed over the armband, it was though he was passing over the baton of responsibility for getting Liverpool out of this mess.

Not that Birmingham will agree Gerrard’s contribution deserved to gain anything for the home side. They will rightly argue that referee Peter Walton was conned by Ngog, who admitted himself afterwards that he dived to win the award at a crucial time for his side.

It was an outrageous dive too, an example of the sort of cynical play that is all too common in the Premier League these days, and one that will ultimately threaten the popularity of this great game if it is allowed to flourish more widely.

It came on 70 minutes, just as it seemed Birmingham were heading for a famous victory, as the confidence in their opponents crumbled visibly, and the chances that Gerrard provided grew less frequent.

The young French striker cleverly danced past two challenges on the left of the box, but as substitute Lee Carsley dived in, perhaps recklessly, Ngog theatrically tumbled to the turf to con the referee. That said, Liverpool weren’t going to turn down the opportunity, no matter how wrong the decision, and if ever they needed their skipper back, it was for that moment when Gerrard brought them level.

Quite how Liverpool had got themselves into that position though, was a mystery, because they dominated much of the opening exchanges, and seemed to have been given a massive lift by a brilliant Ngog finish on 15 minutes, when he volleyed home only after visiting keeper Joe Hart had brilliantly saved from him and Kuyt.

But typically, the home side’s luck was out as Christian Benitez, Birmingham’s on loan signing, chose this of all games to finally open his account for his new club, as he bundled home following yet more poor defending at set piece from Liverpool, as they allowed Roger Johnson and Scott Dann too much space to provide the chance from James’ McFadden’s high free kick.

Worse followed, just before the break, as the Anfield side were disrupted when Albert Riera, just back from serious injury, unfortunately tore a hamstring, and in the ensuing confusion, Cameron Jerome showed his strength to push past Javier Mascherano in the midfield, and then unfurl a wonderful, dipping curling 35 yard lob that left Pepe Reina stranded. At least Liverpool avoided the ignominy of defeat, and at least there was the silver lining of Gerrard’s return, but predictably it still came at a cost, with Yossi Benayoun also limping away with a hamstring tear, to leave a fog of uncertainty still swirling around Anfield.

Liverpool: Reina 6; Johnson 7, Skrtel 5, Agger 6, Insua 5; Mascherano 6, Lucas 5; Benayoun 6, Kuyt 7, Riera 5 (Gerrard 44, 7); Ngog 6.

Birmingham: Hart 7; Carr 7, Johnson 7, Dann 7, Ridgewell 6; , Larsson 6, Tainio 5 (Carsley 16, 6) , Bowyer 6, McFadden 6 (Vignal 67, 5); Benitez 6; Jerome 7.

Referee: Peter Walton 6

Hero: Cameron Jerome - scored the goal of his career to silence the Kop and give his side a remarkable lead.

Villain: The Liverpool defence must take collective responsibility for the goal which allowed Birmingham back into this game.

Match stat: Christian Benitez's opening goal for his new club was the first Birmingham have scored within the opening half hour of a game this season.