The Premier League's latest pretenders to a top four position had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Anfield, having forced their way back into the match and taken the lead.
Martin Skrtel had given Liverpool the lead, only for Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland to put City ahead. But within seconds of Ireland's goal, Yossi Benayoun grabbed Liverpool's equaliser.
City boss Hughes felt his side deserved more and said: “We restricted Liverpool to a very few opportunities but the ones they did have, they scored from.
“But we restricted their influential players from having an impact on the game. We were good on the break and carried a real threat in the second period when Carlos Tevez came on.
“We had to chase the game, and Carlos gave us a real energy. We retained possession and got back from one-down to take the lead.
“We had another winning position and let it slip. We were caught straight after we had scored and had several chances to clear the ball before Benayoun put it away.
“My players are disappointed, they had an opportunity to win. Scoring twice and getting a point at Anfield is something you would normally be happy with.
“Maybe we will be come the end of the season, but at the moment it feels like a chance missed.”
He added: “Liverpool will be happy with a point, on the day they were not the better team so they should be happy with a draw.
“If you do not make too much of a positive impact on the game you feel happy with a point. I felt we merited more, given our second-half performance.
“But there are signs of quality, and it is only time before we start winning games. Everybody can see that.
“It is a frustration to keep throwing away winning positions, in general play we were the better team.
“But Liverpool still have threats. They have accomplished players and a squad capable of handling injuries, so they cannot be underestimated.
“We were waiting for the chance, but we did not want to go gung-ho at Anfield too soon, that is when you get punished.
“We should have seen the game out once we were in front, but we take confidence from the manner of our play and it is only a matter of time before we start winning.”
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Sean Lynch (21/11/2009 at 16:42)
Ireland and Wright Philips rubbish so Hughesless just sits there instead of getting Tevez on and Santa Cruz to partner Ade up front who looked lost, clueless management from a boring negative hopeless manager, get rid asap, we will not beat Hull at home next week, not the way we are playing, the players have no confidence and don't want to play for Hughes, Barry has been rubbish now for weeks!
HAYMAN BACK IN BOLTON, WESTHOUGHTON (21/11/2009 at 16:43)
There's a Blue Moon Rising!, Manchester (21/11/2009 at 16:47)
Unfortunately we'll have to read a hundred posts from people who know nothing about football and the size of the challenge to get where we want to be . . .
black and blue, manchester, where else? (21/11/2009 at 16:52)
Edski Vega, Nottingham (21/11/2009 at 17:03)
Mark Hughes has to admit he cannot handle it....yet again today we bottled it....just like last season in both games against Liverpool (we should have won both). There is only a certain amount of time before you have to realise you are doing such a poor job...... I think that 1 and a half years is enough time.
BLUE BOY!! MANCHESTER NOT LONDON!!, Manchester (21/11/2009 at 17:18)
NUFF SAID!!
Njinsky Blue, Spain (21/11/2009 at 17:25)
Elano's PR Manager, Gorton (21/11/2009 at 17:25)
The Horse, Cheadle (21/11/2009 at 17:28)
Sam Haggar-MCFC-TEVEZ IS A BLUE (21/11/2009 at 17:29)
Sam Haggar-MCFC-TEVEZ IS A BLUE (21/11/2009 at 17:31)
black and blue, manchester, where else?
21/11/2009 at 16:52
Whats your reasons why
Portsmouth Blue (21/11/2009 at 17:33)
Infijar Ken, Angola (21/11/2009 at 17:43)
Steve Giles, Plymouth (21/11/2009 at 17:45)
get real the boo boys, yes hughes has made mistakes but the team outplayed liverpool 2nd half in their own back yard. if nothing constructive to say, then best sit at home put the telly on and watch come dine with me with your probably as boring mrs.
bludarnsarf (21/11/2009 at 17:45)
Edski Vega, Nottingham
21/11/2009 at 17:03
Fortunately what you think impresses no-one, joker!
On another thread you were picked up for your lack of mathematical knowledge!
Check your text again. Should really ensure your English is up to scratch before you post!
Infijar Ken, Angola (21/11/2009 at 17:46)
There was less complaining last season (and that is saying something) and everybody was making excuses for Sven the season before.
C'mon guys.
jo alves (21/11/2009 at 18:00)
jo alves (21/11/2009 at 18:05)
herrock (21/11/2009 at 18:20)
ROGERMELLIE, DENTON (21/11/2009 at 18:27)
First half was drab, when Tevez came on, we gave them problems. Do think though that this was the worst Liverpool side I have come across. Suppose I should be happy with a point, did have £3 on 2-2 at 14/1 at the match.
CTID - CITY 4 - 1 Hull (Think Barry will be rested in this match, therfore, Robhino will play on the left and suppose Lescott should play left back. Ned & Toure (if fit in centre) and Zab on right. We need to be more attack minded, we did waste a lot of possession in first half, the long ball to Ade doesn't work.
BlueBoy1 , Bolton (21/11/2009 at 18:45)
mr bump, badlands (21/11/2009 at 18:48)
lets start with villa. spent buckets of money by their standards and were nailed on to beat burnley today. outplayed for long periods and saved by a last minute goal. o'neill has got to be sacked hasnt he boys ?
lets move on to liverpool. spent more than city in the last 3 years and expected to challenge for title (not the top 4). they have one in 10 and about to go out of europe. zonal marking means rafa doesnt know what he's doing and frankly he's gotta go hasnt he boys ? they couldnt beat an underachieving city team with a crap manager...rafa is useless.
and what about spurs ? well theyve spent more than city in the last 3 yrs and sacked their last but one manager cos 5th was rubbish. booed off after losing at home to stoke last time out means they must beat wigan 6-0 tomorrow otherwise happy harry is off down the dole queue.
on to city....lost one all season and have drawn a few where maybe they shouldve won. glass half full or empty boys ? today we outplay liverpool for a big part of the second half which i dont recall doing very often in my lifetime at anfield. hughes starts with a conservative 4-5-1 to consolidate first half as we have been leaking goals. mission accomplished though a bit drab...but youd take 0-0 at half time away wouldnt you ? second half sloppy goal (i was on skrtl at 25/1 so not so bad eh ...glass half full and all that) means we have to come out and so we did. hughes sub was right..tevez for barry made sense. in 90 mins i dont recall liverpool carving us open once. we made them look a bit silly at times and wasted chances with poor final ball etc. but even conceding another soft goal meant we came away disappointed at anfield. strange feeling. do they look top 4 material or do we ? theyre going nowhere fast and we are going upwards albeit more slowly than some would like.
did i mention that fool of a manager at arsenal ? he's gotta go. losing to those no marks from sunderland. what do you say boys ? surely the body language of his team suggests theyve lost the dressing room...too true. his subs were rubbish andmade no difference. sack him now and get mourinho in. that will do it. he'll like london wont he ? what no money to spend ? blimey thats no good. sack wenger anyway.
so there you have it. you can be a glass half full and want city (players and manager) to do well. or your glass is bloody completely empty and you want hughes sacked. come on blue boy / black n blue (you could be twins or the same person even)...you know it makes sense. IF O
trubluTaplow, Taplow Bucks (21/11/2009 at 19:06)
Another DRAW and on five million+ a year ?............for what ?
Just above Sunderland, who probably have not had as much money spent on players
since formation, as Mr Hughes has organised (?) to spend, in his time at City .....
...............possibly he's on a backhander from the ragman !
Sheikh a leg and If Hull are not well BEATEN next week...........that's IT !
O'Fortuna I want a Richard Mille like Mubaraks, Mubarak & Mansour/The worlds most Impeccable Football Club Chairman and Owner. (21/11/2009 at 19:09)
awful corners
awful ball retention from throw ins
never turned up until they scored
not enough movement on the ball
not enough movement off the ball
not enough pressing when not in possesion de jong accepted
too much ball in the air in the first half
too many unfathomable passes in front of our own goal
then we were good!
and then immediately typical City we simply refuse to hold a lead
6 points from 18 with our squad seems appallng (I have no opinion of who to blame, not convinced its hughes fault but then that doesnt mean it isnt either) on the face of it but if we can address the above I expect us to be thereabouts at theend of the season. The thing is we should be grateful for theteam we have, the wealth we have and that we will win trophies in the coming seasons.
Ex-Red turned Blue 1969, Warrington (21/11/2009 at 19:10)
Liverpool were there for the taking.
Better second half.
Where is the team that thrashed Arsenal?