Liverpool failed to take maximum points from their visit to St.Andrews as Birmingham clung on for a draw. A 47th minute strike from Gerrard put the Reds ahead, but a goal from Ridgewell leave the Merseysiders four points adrift of fourth having played a game more.

The visitors started in the knowledge that all three points would move the Reds to within striking distance of the top four. Torres raced clear after being played in by Maxi. The striker tried to unselfishly set up Gerrard, but for his pass intended for the skipper was intercepted by the last man back for Birmingham.

Next it was the turn of Kuyt who tried his luck from range. The Dutchman worked himself some space on the edge of the Birmingham box, but his strike clipped Dann before falling nicely for Hart in the Blues’ goal.

The Liverpool number ‘9’ was on the end of some rough treatment from Ridgewell after a nice bit of skill from the forward. The Spaniard had cunningly turned the defender, but Torres was brought to ground by the left-back.

On 20 minutes the visitors had an appeal for a penalty turned away. A header goalwards by Kuyt struck a defender, but the referee failed to spot a handball in the Blues’ box.

Torres curled an effort over as the Reds continued to peg Birmingham back deep in their own half. The Spaniard was again allowed little to room to manoeuvre by the home defenders as Johnson caught the striker with a lunging tackle.

Birmingham’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to McFadden, but the midfielder failed to connect properly as the ball which came off his shoulder before looping over the bar.

The Midlanders stuck to their game-plan as Torres was again fouled, this time by Dann. The Birmingham backline were struggling to deal with the Spain striker whose movement was causing the home side plenty of headaches.

Liverpool deservedly took the lead straight after the restart. A cross-shot from Johnson was collected by Gerrard who fired low past Hart into the far corner.

The lead lasted ten minutes as Ridgewell equalised for Birmingham just before the hour mark. Some good play from McFadden found Ridgwell unmarked at the back post who managed to prod the ball over the line.

Rafa Benitez replaced Torres with Ngog on 66 minutes. The French second-half substitute fired wide and headed into the side netting, before Maxi struck a teammate with a rasping shot, and Gerrard fired just over as Liverpool probed for a second.

The home side, who were anonymous in attack throughout the second-half, seemed content to sit back and defend in numbers. Bowyer miscued from a good position as Alex McLeish’s side failed to test Reina.

With the game entering its final five minutes Maxi shot over the bar and Hart saved from Ngog. In a rare attack from Birmingham, Phillips fired straight at Reina as the Blues clung on for a point.


- Match Stats: Birmingham 1-1 Liverpool

Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Gardner, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome, McFadden (Phillips, 78)

Booked: Fahey, Gardner

Goals: Ridgewell 57

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Benayoun (Babel, 71), Gerrard, Lucas Leiva, Maxi, Torres (Ngog, 66), Kuyt (Aquilani, 81)

Booked: Lucas Leiva

Goals: Gerrard 47