Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham
For the second game running, Liverpool threw away a two goal lead in a game at Anfield, as they were held to a third draw in as many games.
the home side started well, and Birmingham were forced to spend much of the opening stages of the game in their own penalty area. But it took until the 24th minute before Liverpool took the lead, and Danny Murphy was the scorer.
El Hadji Diouf was bundled off the ball 25 yards from goal, and from resulting free kick, Danny Murphy curled the ball inside the keeper's near post.
Owen had a chance soon after to make it 2-0 after a fantastic defence splitting pass by Gerrard, but the finish failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
A second chance first half chance fell to Owen, but Murphy's pass was just played a little too far wide of the goal for Owen, and left the striker with a lot of work to do, and Birmingham were able to easily defend the chance.
Stephane Henchoz was substituted at half time after carryinn an injury through much of the first half, and he was replaced by Heskey, who went out on the left, and Riise dropped back to left back with Djimi Traore moving inide to replace Henchoz in the centre of defence.
The defence had been relatively untroubled in the first half, and seemed unlikely to be too involved in the second period, with Liverpool again going in search of goals from the kick off, which soon saw the Reds extend their lead.
El Hadji Diouf picked up the ball just inside the Birmingham half, and after running at the visitors' defence, he knocked the ball to Gerrard, who had made a storming run from midfield to join the attack, and his shot hit the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Emile Heskey almost added to his tally of assists for the season when his cross was given the slighest of touches by Owen at the near post, but the ball was blocked by the legs of the Birmingham keeper and there waere no Liverpool players close enough to pick up the rebound.
It seemed only a matter of time that Liverpool would add to their goals total, with Birmingham looking certain to be heading home with another defeat, but a mistake by Traore allowed Stern John to get a cross into the area, and Clinton Morrison grabbed a goal back.
For an hour of the game, Liverpool had been by far the better side, but Birmingham suddenly looked confident of rescuing a draw and moved up a gear in the final half hour, while the Liverpool back four continually launched long balls forward which were easliy dealt with by the Birmingham centre backs, with Owen and Diouf the target men and Heskey stuck on the left. Even the introduction of Patrick Berger, on for Diouf, failed to see Heskey move into his more natural position.
More changes in the defence saw Diao replace Riise, with Troare moving back into the left back position, having looked out of place in the centre, and Jamie Carragher played alongside Hyypia with Diao completeing the defence by playing the unfamiliar role of right back.
The defence looked far from settled, and the constant changes proved costly in the 94th minutes, as Diao lost possesion and a cross from the right hand side found Clinton Morrison, whose looping header dropped just inside the top corner of Dudek's goal.
It was a point which Birmingham in the end perhaps deserved, if only for their determination in the final half hour, and the fact that they had taken advantage of Liverpool's defensive slips ups.
But it was to be the third game in a row which Liverpool have led in the closing stages of the match and have failed to win. Bolton will provide a tough test for Liverpool at the weekend, but if the Reds are to avoid any more early season slip ups, it is a game which simply simply must be won.
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