CITY goalscorer Stephen Ireland admitted his side felt they had been “robbed” after Liverpool snatched a 2-2 draw in their tense Premier League clash at Anfield.
Liverpool took the lead when Martin Skrtel stabbed home Steven Gerrard's free-kick early in the second-half.
Emmanuel Adebayor's header and Stephen Ireland's clever close-range flick put City ahead before Yossi Benayoun forced home the equaliser.
“Looking back at the end of the season we'll probably see it as a good point but we feel a bit robbed,” Ireland said.
“We played well, we went ahead but conceded too early. It was very unfortunate but it could have been worse.”
As for City's recent habit of drawing too many games, Ireland added: “It's unfortunate we've drawn those games but I think last year we were losing them, so I think it is a positive and it's onwards and upwards or us now.”
Fellow goalscorer Adebayor said: “Today we played quite well and were in a good position but we gave them a chance to come back.
“We deserved to win but that's football, we just have to keep our focus and keep enjoying ourselves on the pitch.”
City made one change from the side that were held at home by Burnley a fortnight ago, Nigel De Jong coming into the side in place of Carlos Tevez, who was a substitute.
Liverpool started well, Gerrard attacking the right-flank of City's defence when the opportunity arose.
The first chance came after five minutes from a free-kick following a Gareth Barry foul on Dirk Kuyt.
Gerrard swung the set-piece in from the right, Daniel Agger flicked on and centre-back partner Skrtel saw a free header from the left brilliantly saved by Shay Given.
Agger, though, was injured in the incident, clashing heads with Kolo Toure. The young Dane's legs buckled under him as he was receiving treatment and he was carried off suffering from concussion.
Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos was soon on as substitute, a reshuffle Liverpool did not need against the pace of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Jose Reina then had to make a plunging save to his left to turn away a Barry header.
Then Babel was hurt in a collision with De Jong and Gerrard, and needed treatment on the line. Carragher was then booked after 17 minutes for a foul on Craig Bellamy.
Babel lasted only a couple more minutes before limping off to be replaced by Benayoun, Liverpool having suffered two more injury problems in the first 18 minutes.
The game had no rhythm, and from a Liverpool point of view it was a day they needed Gerrard in the middle, on the wing and up front.
He was doing his best, and after 27 minutes saw one shot charged down and the rebound volleyed over after Ngog's pass.
Then Kuyt saw a shot deflected wide from Benayoun's cross, Skrtel heading the resulting corner wide.
City were intent on containment and eventual control. De Jong effectively regained midfield possession and set in motion City's calm, thoughtful approach play.
Shaun Wright-Phillips saw an angled drive flash wide, City beginning to make inroads into Liverpool's territory.
Toure, suffering following an earlier tackle with Gerrard, was replaced at the break Nedum Onuoha.
And Liverpool produced the lift the game needed with a goal after 49 minutes.
Pablo Zabaleta gave away a needless free-kick for holding Ngog on the left, and when Gerrard swung the set-play into the box, Skrtel was there first in front of Adebayor to stab home from six yards.
City needed to up their game now, and with Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz on the bench, they certainly had ammunition in reserve.
And Hughes waited until the hour mark to withdraw Barry and send on Tevez, who instantly drew a booking for Lucas following a tangle on the half-way line.
City cranked up the pressure as Liverpool fell deeper, and they were level after 69 minutes. Bellamy's corner swirled into the box and it was Adebayor's turn to lose Skrtel this time, heading down and bouncing high into the top corner.
City struck again after 76 minutes when Tevez and Wright-Phillips worked well to create a chance for Ireland - who looked marginally offside - to flick the ball past Reina.
Liverpool's response came within 60 seconds. Ngog crossed from the right, the ball deflecting to Benayoun who forced it home from a couple of yards out.
Benayoun was withdrawn after 85 minutes with Aurelio coming on.
It was City hanging on at the end as Liverpool forced a string of corners. Lucas headed one wide, while a Kuyt cross crashed into Onuoha's arm, but no penalty came from it.
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micheal ok, kilworth,county cork ireland. (21/11/2009 at 15:05)
on this basis neither liverpool or city deserve to be anywhere near the top 4.
de jong city motm for me.
CTID
Colin Bell, cobh, ireland (21/11/2009 at 15:10)
Point taken though.
MrHj , Cheshire (21/11/2009 at 15:10)
The Blue Tool, URMSTON (21/11/2009 at 15:10)
Hilal Sued, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (21/11/2009 at 15:12)
StretfordBLUE in America, Born a BLUE and Forever (21/11/2009 at 15:12)
Pull up at Dave's (21/11/2009 at 15:12)
6 draws on the run (5 against teams who beat us in the corresponding fixture last season) Boo! Get rid of Hughes.
The fact that we are 16-17 points better off than after the corresponding games last year makes no difference. Boo! Get rid of Hughes.
After all we ALL know that spending a large amount of money (the same sort of amount that the top four have spent in the last 3-4 years) gives us a RIGHT to win things - not just the ability to compete on a more or less level playing field - A RIGHT TO WIN THINGS. We haven't won a single trophy so far this year. Boo! Get rid of Hughes.
expatblue , Australia (21/11/2009 at 15:13)
sparky's magic piano -, - at the end of the rainbow. (21/11/2009 at 15:14)
Edski Vega, Nottingham (21/11/2009 at 15:14)
Another absolutely abject collapse today...... within 20 seconds of taking the lead..... Typical City!
Wright-Phillips was awful yet again...... Ireland is not good enough either (yes he scored a tap-in). Tevez was Ok for a change.
Robinho is a smart guy..... get the hell out of here, its a hopeless cause, it really is!
Taggart , Ulverston (21/11/2009 at 15:19)
kevodevo (21/11/2009 at 15:21)
Wayne Clarke, picking up that wheel barrow!, Ashton-under-Lyne (21/11/2009 at 15:23)
BlueWulf Blue (21/11/2009 at 15:25)
Neil Crosby (21/11/2009 at 15:26)
Edski Vega, Nottingham
21/11/2009 at 15:14
Idiot.
garden angel, the hague (21/11/2009 at 15:27)
ray class of '68 and before, Bristol Area (21/11/2009 at 15:28)
Please, please, please now top it with a win at home next week.
TTFN
"Whatever happened to our Heroes", Cheshire (21/11/2009 at 15:31)
George Kane, Stretford (21/11/2009 at 15:34)
Santa Fe Blue, New York City (21/11/2009 at 15:35)
Second half: Ireland and SWP started to get their act together, and de Jong was continuing to be the reliable defensive midfielder. A courageous and correct decision by Mark Hughes to introduce Carlos Tevez. That was smart , MH, keep it up! We started to string some passes together and reacted very well to Liverpool's lead (consequence once again of giving away a stupid free kick...). Bellamy's corner perfect, Ade's header awesome! SWP very clever in turning around his defender and feeding Stevie Ireland. Brilliant! And then in typical City fashion we switch off, let Liverpool equalise.
This is the third time we give away a lead!!! and the sixth time we draw a match. And don't tell me six draws are a feat!
Bottom line: we lost a major opportunity to break into the top 4. We must learn to hold on to our leads.
C'mon you Blues!
By the way: the referee had a very good showimng today.
blackandblue, whalleyrange via stretford,chorlton and heywood (21/11/2009 at 15:48)
NANTWICH BLUE SINCE 69, CHESHIRE (21/11/2009 at 15:49)
that is a good point [rags wud of took 1]they worry is not today but burnley fulham etc..positives from today lescott looked better de jong motm..ireland looked good.. tho should of put bellers in not barry who i thought was poor again...two excellent goals, tevez was good but and this is my biggest worry adebayor could be our schevchenko/mutu/berbatov/veron...put all those in cos we will spend big and get some duffers but wtf we got the money
mike cooke (21/11/2009 at 15:50)
jineutron, near L.A., California (21/11/2009 at 15:50)
Arsene: No, no, no. Mark! Listen! If you score 1, we'll score 2. Now let me hear you say it again.
Mark: Emm....ok....If you score 1, we'll score 1.
Arsene: No, Mark. Look...why don't you call me back after the New Year and we'll try again.
imre varadi's sabre dance, leicester (21/11/2009 at 15:53)
In my opinion, Sweepy contributed a lot on the right faced with 3 players closing him down more often than not. Superman equally contributed skill and flair in centre midfield, but I agree he is desperately missing Ela and Robbie who understood his way of playing. His creativity is being stifled. But that is another arguement. I don't think we were robbed, and I don't think the scousers were 'there for the taking'. They played, at home, exactly as I thought - off the front foot. We contained them - just - in the boring first half, failed to adjust for the 1st goal after which they became surprisingly complacent. We got up to speed slowly, so slowly we seemed a bit surprised at the amount of time we were being given. They went to sleep, we scored 2 good goals - thank you Academy yet again - and they responded. Either team could have won it with us on the back foot again at the end. Draw was a fair reflection of the game, and neither team were good enough after 100+ minutes to win it.
We need Robbie back to give us that creative flash that changes games. Teamed with Superman, our attacking options would be a lot different. But Eddi - sighs - I despair at your negativity.
CTID.