Source: Eurosport
Gerrard spares Liverpool's blushes
Liverpool avoided further humiliation at Anfield as Steven Gerrard's controversial penalty helped salvage a 2-2 draw with Birmingham.[LNB] Gerrard came on as a substitute seconds before the break and drove home a hotly disputed spot-kick in the second half to rescue a point. [LNB] Liverpool led early on through a David Ngog goal but Christian Benitez nodded the equaliser and Cameron Jerome smashed home a stunning 30-yarder to put Birmingham ahead until Gerrard's intervention.[LNB] Joe Hart had saved one Ngog effort before the France Under-21 striker gave Liverpool a 13th-minute lead. Glen Johnson surged down the right, cutting between two defenders before crossing for Ngog to see his first effort blocked by Hart. [LNB] The ball flew to Dirk Kuyt, and again Hart got his legs in the way to deflect a firm effort. But when the rebound dropped for Ngog, there was no mistake with a close-range volley into the roof of the net. [LNB] Birmingham struck back with an impressive set-piece. James McFadden fired a free-kick into the box, Roger Johnson headed back across goal where Scott Dann nodded on for Ecuador striker Benitez to head past Jose Reina from close range. [LNB] A minute from the break Albert Riera, who had been on a solo bid to score from outside the box at every opportunity, suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury, and Gerrard was instantly sent on as substitute. [LNB] And within seconds Birmingham were ahead when Cameron Jerome shook off the attentions of Javier Mascherano to lash a swerving 30-yard effort into the top corner. [LNB] Liverpool were then awarded a penalty when Ngog got himself to the byline and looked to hurdle a Lee Carsley lunge, the Birmingham man's foot not touching the Liverpool youngster. [LNB] Carsley and Ngog exchanged views and pushes and referee Peter Walton booked both before Gerrard stepped up to drill home the penalty and snatch a point.
