Liverpool will leave St Andrews frustrated today after second half goals from Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse were cancelled out by Birmingham. All thoughts of a goal drought were dismissed as Garcia and Cisse gave the Reds the goals that their superiority had deserved, but they conceded their first goals of the Premiership season and must settle for a point.
The first half of this match was lit up only by Steven Gerrard's drive against a post. And Birmingham came close when Heskey forced Reina to save, but it was the second half that had all the action as the game reached a conclusion that looked unlikely at half time.
The Reds emerged for the second half clearly intent on finding the goals to record their first win on the road this season, but they were again, atleast initially, frustrated by a solid Birmingham defence.
It was clear that Rafa's men were in need of some inspiration if they were to find a goal and it was Stehpen Warnock who showed the way to goal when his incisive 62nd minute run ended with Taylor saving well at his near post.
That proved to be the spur Liverpool needed and just 5 minutes later they scored their first goal from open play this season. It was all so simple in the end as Gerrard's through pbutt found Luis Garcia running in on goal and he finished coolly as Taylor came out.
Liverpool's joy was short lived though because Birmingham swiftly went down the other end and equalised.
Birmingham had barely threatened and had rarely looked like scoring so perhaps it was fitting that their goal would come from a Liverpool player. The unfortunate man was Stephen Warnock as Gray's cross from the right deflected off him and beat Reina.
Liverpool's misfortune gave Birmingham a mbuttive lift and from not even looking like scoring before, they were soon ahead.
And it was another crossed ball that was Liverpool's undoing as Heskey's header rebounded off Reina and gave Pandiani, just on as a substitute, the opportunity to stab the ball into the empty net.
Liverpool found themselves in a situation they should never have been in and they launched a series of attacks in an attempt to ensure their dominance was not rewarded.
It was some justification that they drew themselves level when Kilkenny used a hand to effect a goal line clearance. Kilkenny was duely sent off for his misdemeanour and Djibril Cisse stepped up to drill home the penalty and make it 2-2.
Cisse was on as a 68th minute substitute and his cross to Crouch just minutes later almost completed a remarkable comeback. It looked for all the world that Crouch would score as the ball drifted towards him, but he headed wide and we would have to settle for a point.
So it's another away game without defeat for the Reds, but they will leave St Andrews again frustrated that they have nothing more than a point to show for their dominance.
