Steven Gerrard’s controversial penalty earned Liverpool a 2-2 Premier League draw with Birmingham City at Anfield on Monday after the visitors had earlier fought back to take the lead.
Gerrard, who came off the bench following a groin problem, rescued a point from the penalty spot after David Ngog went down under Lee Carsley’s challenge in the penalty area, with the furious Blues insisting the striker had dived.
But the Reds remain seventh in the table, with manager Rafael Benitez still facing intense pressure. However, for once, Benitez’s position after Liverpool had dropped points at home was not the major post-match talking point, with Carsley accusing Ngog, who had opened the scoring, of an “embarrassing case of cheating” in securing the spot-kick.
“I was absolutely nowhere near him,” said midfielder Carsley, who used to play for Liverpool’s city rivals Everton. “It’s a joke. I’m sure he has got a family, well if I went home having done that I’d be embarrassed.”
Blues boss Alex McLeish said: “This is a shame for the game. He conned the referee and got his team a penalty.”
Newly promoted City had led at the break after goals from Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome canceled out Ngog’s opener.
Ecuador international Benitez pulled Birmingham level with a close-range header before Jerome gave the visitors a shock lead with a superb strike.
City were the first to threaten with Lee Bowyer’s shot flying over the bar.
However, 12 minutes in Liverpool went ahead.
The on-loan Manchester City man saved from Ngog and Kuyt before Albert Riera lobbed back into the area and Ngog fired in a powerful left-foot volley, but midway through the first half, Birmingham drew level from a free-kick. James McFadden floated the ball in and Roger Johnson and Scott Dann both won headers before Benitez headed past Jose Reina.
Riera limped off to be replaced by Gerrard in the final stages of the first period, but City still took the lead when Jerome thumped in Birmingham’s second from 30 yards.
Gerard made no mistake after Ngog went down under Carsley’s challenge which, from where Walton was stood, left the referee with a tricky decision.
Gerrard shrugged off the tension and beat Hart from the spot to equalize for Liverpool.
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