Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City match report: Benayoun seals draw in barnstorming second half

Substitute Yossi Benayoun saved a point for Liverpool in a tense Premier League clash at Anfield.

Manchester City had been ahead deep into the second period before Benayoun's close-range intervention.

Liverpool took the lead when Martin Skrtel converted Steven Gerrard's free-kick early in the second half. Emmanuel Adebayor's header and Stephen Ireland's clever close-range flick put City ahead before Benayoun forced home the equaliser.

Liverpool started well, Gerrard attacking the right-flank of City's defence when the opportunity arose.

The first chance came after five minutes from a free-kick following a Gareth Barry foul on Dirk Kuyt.

Gerrard swung the set-piece in from the right, Daniel Agger flicked on and centre-back partner Martin Skrtel saw a free header from the left brilliantly saved by Shay Given.

Agger, though, was injured in the incident, clashing heads with Kolo Toure. The young Dane's legs buckled under him as he was receiving treatment and he was carried off suffering from concussion.

Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos was soon on as substitute, a reshuffle Liverpool did not need against the pace of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Jose Reina then had to make a plunging save to his left to turn away a Barry header.

Then Babel was hurt in a collision with De Jong and Gerrard, and needed treatment on the line. Carragher was then booked after 17 minutes for a foul on Craig Bellamy.

Babel lasted only a couple more minutes before limping off to be replaced by Benayoun, Liverpool having suffered two more injury problems in the first 18 minutes.

The game had no rhythm, and from a Liverpool point of view it was a day they needed Gerrard in the middle, on the wing and up front.

He was doing his best, and after 27 minutes saw one shot charged down and the rebound volleyed over after Ngog's pass.

Then Kuyt saw a shot deflected wide from Benayoun's cross, Skrtel heading the resulting corner wide.

City were intent on containment and eventual control. De Jong effectively regained midfield possession and set in motion City's calm, thoughtful approach play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips saw an angled drive flash wide, City beginning to make inroads into Liverpool's territory.

Toure, suffering following an earlier tackle with Gerrard, was replaced at the break Nedum Onuoha.

And Liverpool produced the lift the game needed with a goal after 49 minutes.

Pablo Zabaleta gave away a needless free-kick for holding Ngog on the left, and when Gerrard swung the set-play into the box, Skrtel was there first in front of Adebayor to stab home from six yards.

City needed to up their game now, and with Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz on the bench, they certainly had ammunition in reserve.

And Hughes waited until the hour mark to withdraw Barry and send on Tevez, who instantly drew a booking for Lucas following a tangle on the half-way line.

City cranked up the pressure as Liverpool fell deeper, and they were level after 69 minutes. Bellamy's corner swirled into the box and it was Adebayor's turn to lose Skrtel this time, heading down and bouncing high into the top corner.

City struck again after 76 minutes when Tevez and Wright-Phillips worked well to create a chance for Stephen Ireland - who looked marginally offside - to flick the ball past Reina.

Liverpool's response came within 60 seconds. Ngog crossed from the right, the ball deflecting to Benayoun who forced it home from a couple of yards out.

Benayoun was withdrawn after 85 minutes with Aurelio coming on.

It was City hanging on at the end as Liverpool forced a string of corners. Lucas headed one wide, while a Kuyt cross crashed into Onuoha's arm, but no penalty came from it.

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