Cisse ensures Birmingham pay penalty

The transformation saw Birmingham end their search for a home point while Liverpool could finally lay claim to a league goal outside Anfield. But neither Bruce nor Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez were satisfied. The disputed decision lay at the heart of Bruce’s gripe while Benitez was left to rue only the goals his men had failed to score.

Land of Hope and Glory accompanied the sides on to the pitch but failed to stir them and it was difficult to understand the negativity.

Amid a blur of over-hit passes, long balls and shapeless moves, just two first-half moments survived in the memory. The first came after 25 minutes and saw Emile Heskey released by Damien Johnson. The former Anfield man’s low shot was well-struck, but Jose Reina’s reflexes were up to the task and the ball ran to safety.

Three minutes later, and it was Steven Gerrard who sought to rise above the malaise. Surging through the centre with some purpose, the midfielder unleashed a massive strike that crashed against keeper Maik Taylor’s right-hand post.

Mercifully, the second half showed itself to be an entirely different beast. With Gerrard taking particular responsibility for Liverpool’s cause, they were finally beginning to engage in an open contest and with 67 minutes gone Luis Garcia, who had only arrived as a substitute nine minutes earlier, put Liverpool ahead.

Peter Crouch, for once playing the role of supplier, fed Gerrard and the captain’s perfectly weighted ball was confidently despatched by the Spaniard.

It was, albeit belatedly, just what the game needed and so ensued a frantic final third. Surprisingly, having already lost to Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Charlton at St Andrews this season, it was City who took the initiative and within just seven minutes they were ahead.

Their sudden revival needed to be kick-started by Stephen Warnock, the young England full-back deflecting Julian Gray’s cross beyond Reina for the first league goal conceded by Liverpool this season.

A second was not long coming. Pennant’s cross found Heskey whose powerful header was spilled by Reina into the path of substitute Walter Pandiani, who gobbled up the loose ball.

Gerrard upped the urgency and it was his perseverance that led to a free-kick on the right, the assistant referee dubiously penalising Gray. Gerrard took the kick and Jamie Carragher’s header was only kept out of Taylor’s goal by the hand of Neil Kilkenny.

Referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot and ensured the youngster spent the latter part of his league debut in the dressing room. Cisse, the third sub scorer of the afternoon, converted the penalty to leave Bruce furious. He said: “The free kick award was an absolute joke.”

Liverpool should have settled the game but the 6ft 7in Crouch failed to keep a six-yard header under the bar.

Benitez moaned: “We had chances and lost two points.”