Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City: City 'robbed' at Anfield

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 19:39

Skrtel 50; Benayoun 77 Adebayor 69; Ireland 76

MANCHESTER City goalscorer Stephen Ireland admitted his side felt they had been "robbed" after Liverpool snatched a 2-2 draw in their tense Premier League clash at Anfield.

Liverpool took the lead when Martin Skrtel struck home Steven Gerrard's free-kick early in the second-half.

City cranked up the pressure as Liverpool fell deeper, and they were level after 69 minutes. Craig Bellamy's corner swirled into the box and Emmanuel Adebayor lost Skrtel, heading the ball down into the turf from where it bounced high into the top corner.

City struck again after 76 minutes when substitute Carlos Tevez and Shaun Wright-Phillips worked well to create a chance for Stephen Ireland to flick the ball past Jose Reina.

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

"Looking back at the end of the season we'll probably see it as a good point but we feel a bit robbed," Ireland said.

"We played well, we went ahead but conceded too early. It was very unfortunate but it could have been worse."

As for City's recent habit of drawing too many games, Ireland added: "It's unfortunate we've drawn those games but I think last year we were losing them, so I think it is a positive and it's onwards and upwards for us now."

Fellow goalscorer Adebayor said: "Today we played quite well and were in a good position but we gave them a chance to come back.

"We deserved to win but that's football, we just have to keep our focus and keep enjoying ourselves on the pitch."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said: "We're a little bit disappointed, we had chances at the end. But with the problems we had, making two substitutions in the first 18 minutes, to still come back we showed very good character. Until the last minute we were still pushing.

"The players worked so hard. You could see that even with a lot of problems we were winning and even though we conceded the first goal then the second, you could still see the character of the team.

"In the circumstances I thought we were very good."

Benitez is hopeful of having a bolstered side for the crucial midweek Champions League clash with Debrecen despite yesterday's injuries to Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel.

"Agger has five stitches and Babel has a problem with his ankle, but it's too early to say and we have to wait," Benitez said. "I think it was important for Yossi Benayoun to come through today. On the bench was Albert Riera and hopefully (Glen] Johnson (will return]. Maybe we'll have some more coming back."

Benitez's City counterpart Mark Hughes insisted his side edged the contest.

"We're disappointed because I think we were the better team today," he said. "We showed great character to come from a goal down.

"We were in a winning position and that's the frustration for us at the moment, allowing those winning situations to go away from us. That's the disappointing thing. Really, Liverpool had not caused us too many problems."