The Independent
Liverpool lose sight of promised land
Liverpool matched the trio of Premier League title contenders by leaving St Andrew's with a point yesterday, although in truth Rafael Benitez's team needed to end Birmingham's seven-month, 13-game unbeaten home record if they were to make significant inroads into the advantage held by Manchester City and Tottenham in the pursuit of fourth place.
The Guardian
Liverpool held by Birmingham as Champions League hopes fade
There is no disgrace in drawing with a Birmingham City side that have now taken points off every club in the top six at home but the harsh reality for Liverpool is that matching their rivals' results is no longer enough. Liam Ridgewell's equaliser, after Steven Gerrard had put Liverpool in front with his 10th goal of the season, means that Rafael Benítez's side are four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
The Telegraph
Birmingham City 1 Liverpool 1
It is official: Birmingham City are Rafael Benítez’s bogeymen. Despite eight opportunities, Birmingham remain the only Premier League club to have avoided defeat to the Liverpool manager, which for a lover of facts is an anomaly that will bring on a hot flush. But the reality of this particular draw has left Benítez admitting that, in the race for fourth, Liverpool’s margin of error has become non-existent.
The Times
Rafael Benitez offers no guarantees after insipid show by Liverpool
There is no disgrace in drawing with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s. After all, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the top five in the Barclays Premier League, have met the same fate in England’s Second City this season.
