Liverpool and Manchester City shared a thrilling 2-2 draw in their Premier League clash with all four goals coming in an enthralling second half at Anfield.
Manchester City's Adebayor celebrates with Ireland and Wright-Phillips after scoring against Liverpool, REUTERS - 0
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The pressure will mount further on Reds boss Rafael Benitez as his side look set to slip further behind their rivals in the league having gone into the match 11 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Martin Skrtel gave Liverpool the lead after the defender stole in ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor in the 50th minute to stab home from Steven Gerrard's inswinging delivery.
Adebayor levelled at 1-1 with a towering header which he directed superbly into the bottom corner as Liverpool were punished for some terribly slack marking in their penalty area in the 69th minute.
Stephen Ireland then slammed City in front after Shaun Wright-Phillips turned his marker to square the ball to the midfielder from close range, 14 minutes from time.
But substitute Yossi Benayoun hit straight back a minute later for the hosts, the Israeli tapping home from David Ngog's deflected shot as Benitez's side grabbed a deserved point.
The first half was a drab affair with Liverpool devoid of inspiration in the final third of the field as City defended stoutly, before a chaotic second period ensued.
Steven Gerrard returned for Liverpool, with Alberto Aquilani and Benayoun confined to the bench, while Ngog replaced Torres at the point of the Reds' attack.
For City, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz had to settle for places on the bench as Craig Bellamy partnered Adebayor as Gareth Barry played against the side for which he once came close to starring.
It could have been different for the Reds as early as the fifth minute when Gerrard whipped in a vicious free-kick from the right and Joleon Lescott inadvertently deflected it to Skrtel, who was loitering at the back post, but his header was tipped wide by Shay Given with a stunning reflex save.
At the other end, Barry stole in at the back post with the midfielder inexplicably unmarked from Ireland's dinked cross, but his header was tame and Pepe Reina was able to parry the ball wide to alleviate the danger.
The hosts' task was made all the more arduous as first Daniel Agger - with a nasty eye injury - then Ryan Babel, were forced off the field with Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Benayoun the men to step in.
A characteristic run from the returning Gerrard saw the Liverpool skipper surge into the City box at pace and unleashe a fierce shot, but it drifted narrowly wide of the top corner of Given's net after Pablo Zabaleta was outfoxed, not for the first time.
On the half-hour, an unusually subdued Dirk Kuyt fired a low volley from the edge of the City box, but it deflected off the excellent Lescott's ankle and away for a corner as Liverpool's forward play continued to peter out in the final third.
Mark Hughes made an enforced change at half-time as Nedum Onuoha replaced the City captain Kolo Toure, who sustained a thigh strain early on.
Liverpool started the second half with urgency and were rewarded with the opening goal as Gerrard whipped in a devilish delivery from a free-kick out on the left and Skrtel stole in ahead of his marker Adebayor - not for the first time - to stab the ball past Given.
Hughes responded quickly to introduce Carlos Tevez with Gareth Barry forced to make way and the attacking change reaped its rewards.
Adebayor equalised with a majestic header into the bottom corner as City capitalised on their hosts' shoddy marking.
The Argentine found Wright-Phillips on the left side of the Liverpool box and the winger proceeded to turn Krygiakos as if he were not there and squared the ball across to Ireland who tucked the ball past Reina to stun the hosts.
But Liverpool hit straight back as Ngog fired a cross-shot to the far post and it took a vicious deflection off Lescott with the ball squirming out to Benayoun who was able to tap the ball home.
Liverpool remain a point behind City in seventh place after making it three games without a win, while Hughes's side recorded their fifth consecutive draw with neither manager entirely satisfied.
Dan Quarrell / Eurosport
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