Up against the Big Spending blue half of Manchester

Now this was one interesting move from Rafael Benitez. Ngog and Babel starting upfront. In my memory, this was the first time they were coming together. Gerrard was in the starting line-up, providing a big boost for the Liverpool supporters. Lucas, Mascherano and Kuyt completing the 4 in midfield. Liverpool did start brightly with Gerrard driving them on. We were doing very well whenever Gerrard pushing the City midfielders. That's what he brings to this Reds' side. An unending, unnerving desire to win.

Liverpool won a free kick on the 5th minute. Gerrard floated in the ball around the 6 yard box. Skrtel's header from a flick on was goal bound before the "god of goalkeeping" Shay Given intervened with his left glove flapping at it. Out for a corner. The "god" saved Man City from going behind. The corner was cleared off by Toure. The melee left Daniel Agger blooded. He was replaced with Kyrgiakos. Then on the 18th minute, Babel was replaced with Yossi Benayoun. This was looking like a rather positive change, although needed by De Jong's challenge on Babel. Now those were 2 changes which Benitez clearly did not feel comfortable with.

Mascherano was working like a war horse in this midfield. That's what we really want out of him. With Alonso gone, its really his job to protect the back four. It was proving to be one of his better displays. There was a decent build up from the right hand side before the ball fell to Gerrard whose first shot was blocked, and the rebound went high and wide. Gerrard could not wrap his foot around that ball else shay Given would have come into play for sure. Another build up from left presented Kuyt with a shooting chance from 20 yards out in the center. His shot was deflected for a corner.

Gerrard was his typical battling driving self. Snapping at every possible opportunity to get the ball. Man City then had a very decent buildup with the pass from Wayne Bridge being fed to Wright Philips on the right hand side. His shot from just outside the box did not manage to trouble Reina. Mascherano then had a hit from almost 30 yards out that flew straight out to Given. This was looking like a much better Liverpool side. The ball was moving, there was enough in the midfield to not let Man City keep possession. On the present evidence, only De Jong, Wright Philips and Shay Given were performing for City. In the first half injury time, Gerrard sent in a curling dangerous ball into the six yard box. Any touch and Given might have been in trouble. Unfortunately, it went straight to him.

Half Time at Anfield. Liverpool 0 - 0 Manchester City.

Ireland had the first real chance to make in the second half. He was having the ball in the center just outside the box, and Bellamy all free on his left. He chose to make a strange pass ahead of him. Then Gerrard had a decent opportunity to test shay Given. His shot was however blocked. Liverpool had a free kick on the 48th minute out on the left. And Gerrard's amazing delivery was turned in by Skrtel. His outstretched leg reaching to the ball ahead of Adebayor. That is Skrtel's first goal for us, and much needed. That was 1 - 0 to Liverpool. Ngog had done well to hold the ball and draw that challenge which resulted in the free kick. The "god" was beaten for once.

That goal turned Man City into a team which was intent on keeping possession. They were not ready to attempt any fancy passes and just try to build a momentum for any of the movements towards the Liverpool goal. Bellamy, Ireland and Jong were keeping hold of the ball and not letting Gerrard and Lucas push ahead of the half way line. Man City got their first corner of the game in the 59th minute. Reina could clear it away from his far post. Soon Gareth Barry was replaced by Carlos Tevez. It was a clear intent of attack from Mark Hughes. Ngog takes too much time on the ball before deciding what to do with it. He had a decent opportunity to cross from the right but his time taking skills brought in a block.

Lucas received his yellow card for kicking the ball away when a foul had been called against Insua. Bellamy delivered the killer punch from nowhere. His corner delivery found Adebayor with a free header and the ball was in. That was poor display from Skrtel who was supposed to be marking the ex-Arsenal man. Poor Poor concentration from the goal scorer.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Manchester City.

The goal turned around the whole match. Man City were now looking like a side with purpose. Within 2 minutes, the game saw 2 goals. First Tevez and Wright Philips combined to feed Ireland, who was offside. He sliced it past Reina into a wide gaping goal. That was a superb turn from Wright Philips to create space for the cross. Immediately after, just 74 seconds later, Benayoun turned in Gerrard's cross from close range. That ball traveled across the face of the goal with nobody getting to it.

Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City.

Those goals had brought nerves to both the sides. Nobody seemed confident on the ball except for maybe Wright Philips and Gerrard. Bellamy got another shooting opportunity from the left but his shot was not on target. On came Aurelio for Benayoun. And just before that, Liverpool were awarded a free kick on the left hand side. Aurelio stood over it. And shot high and wide towards the far post. Bridge conceded a corner from what was looking like a poor cross. Kyrgiakos was attacking from the far post but Philips was defending. The resulting corner was cleared. We were already into injury time. There was time for a corner still for Liverpool. Kuyt wanted to put it back into the 6 yard box but ended up getting a corner. Free header for Lucas and he could not direct it anywhere towards the goal. That's the difference between a draw and win. Yes, his name is Lucas. That was it. I hope Lucas realizes what he could have done to this match.

Final whistle. Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City.

We desperately need Torres and Johnson to come back to this side. Thats when the defenders start moving haywire. People like Lucas will never get us the goals. You give that chance to Carrick, Fletcher, Lampard, Essien, Fabregas, Nasri, Scholes, Diaby - each one of them will put it away.

Still. You Will Never Walk Alone.