Crouch salvages draw for Reds

Liverpool's Peter Crouch applauds the crowd after their English Premiership soccer match against Aston Villa at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Peter Crouch scored with two minutes left and salvaged a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Monday.

The England striker came off the bench in the 80th minute against his former club and spared the Reds from a home defeat on a night when the Anfield crowd unleashed a torrent of abuse denouncing the club's US owners.

Yossi Benayoun put Liverpool ahead in the 19th and the home side dominated until another substitute, Marlon Harewood, equalized in the 69th against the run of play.

Three later, Fabio Aurelio scored an own-goal and Villa appeared headed for victory.

"It's difficult to explain. We were attacking and controlling. You could see they were not creating anything," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "But after two free kicks we were under pressure and very nervous."

The result was a fourth consecutive draw for Liverpool, leaving them fifth in the standings with 40 points and 14 behind league-leading Manchester United.

With hopes of a first league title in 18 years fading, Benitez's side faces a tussle for the fourth Champions League spot with crosstown rivals Everton, who are fourth with 42, and Villa who are sixth, also with 40.

Throughout match, Liverpool fans belted out derogatory chants about the club's American owners -- Tom Hicks and George Gillett -- singing "Liverpool Football Club is in the wrong hands."

They were infuriated by Hicks' admission of approaching former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann in November about replacing the embattled Benitez, who is universally backed by fans.

In an interview last month Hicks described Benitez as "pouting" during a spat over player transfers.

On Sunday, Hicks, who also owns the NHL Dallas Stars and MLB Texas Rangers teams, denied he was planning to sell his stake to the Dubai International Capital -- a move the fans appear to support.

Banners inside the storied stadium read, "Dubai S.O.S. Yanks out" and "If it ain't broke, don't Hicks it!"

"It's clear if you can win and you can play well everyone will be happier," Benitez said. "For me, it's just to take our chances and people will be calm and I think we will play better."

Neither Hicks nor Gillett attended the match, although Villa's American owner Randy Lerner was on hand to watch his side.

Liverpool Steven Gerrard said the uncertainty surrounding the ownership and Benitez's future is unsettling.

Within minutes of the opening kickoff Benayoun shot wide, then scored his sixth of the season in the 19th.

In a rare Villa attack, Curtis Davies sent the ball from inside his own half to John Carew, who headed into the path of Gabriel Agbonlahor before Sami Hyppia thwarted the move.

Liverpool more assertive after halftime, with Gerrard sending a cross-field pass in the 50th to Dirk Kuyt, who skewed the ball over with his second touch.

In the 55th Harry Kewell's low, swirling shot was parried by Stuart Taylor and the ball fell to Fernando Torres, who fired high.

With Villa regaining composure after being dominated at the start of the second half, Stiliyan Petrov found Martin Laursen in the penalty area with a 69th-minute free kick.

The Danish defender headed across to Harewood, who'd just replaced Craig Gardner, and scored with an overhead kick.