Pressure mounted on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on Tuesday as his injury list grew, a run of poor results continued, and one of his players was accused of cheating.

On Monday, Liverpool required a controversial penalty from Steven Gerrard to snatch a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City to leave them in seventh place, 11 points behind Chelsea. Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger all suffered knocks, while Fernando Torres did not even make the match-day squad as he battles with a groin injury.

Of greater concern is the fitness of Torres, and while Liverpool’s next game against Manchester City is not until November 21 because of the international break, Benitez said the Spanish international may not even be ready then. “Torres had no confidence today and said he couldn’t play,” Benitez said. “I don’t know if he will be ready for Man City.”

Benitez must also now deal with the fallout from Monday’s match, with angry Birmingham City players and management accusing Liverpool striker David Ngog of cheating after he earned a controversial penalty that salvaged the draw at Anfield. With Birmingham leading 2-1, Ngog went to ground with 20 minutes remaining after a challenge by Birmingham’s Lee Carsley. Television replays showed no contact had been made.

“You are supposed to be teaching your kids an example and this is just an embarrassing case of cheating,” Carsley was quoted as saying by British media. “I was absolutely nowhere near him. It’s a joke. I know I didn’t touch him and I said to the referee to book me or send me off. That would have made me feel better.”