Steven Gerrard equalized with a disputed penalty as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Birmingham to fall 11 points behind Premier League leader Chelsea.

Liverpool trailed 2-1 in the 71st minute at Anfield yesterday when striker David Ngog went down in the area after a challenge by Lee Carsley, although the Birmingham midfielder clearly made no contact and afterward accused the French striker of cheating.

"He went past me and I was nowhere near (him). It's a joke," Carsley said. "I didn't touch him at all. When (the ref) sees that he will be really disappointed. I know for a fact that, if I went home knowing I'd done something like (Ngog did), I'd be embarrassed.

"We're supposed to be teaching the kids and leading by example, and that's just an embarrassing case of cheating."

Gerrard, having come off the bench despite a lingering groin injury, scored from the spot to keep his team in seventh spot in a horror season that also has Liverpool facing elimination from the group stage of the Champions League.

Liverpool has been beaten six times in its past nine matches in all competitions, drawing twice and winning only once.

"We can talk about the penalty, whether it was or not," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "Maybe it wasn't a penalty, but I think we deserved to win because we had way too many opportunities."

The Reds have 19 points, while Birmingham is 15th with 12 points after a seventh straight league game against Liverpool without losing. Chelsea has 30 points, five ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United. Tottenham has 22, Aston Villa 21 and Man City 20.

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