Late Gerrard penalty saves Liverpool

Liverpool 1 Atletico Madrid 1:Steven Gerrard scored a stoppage-time penalty to earn Liverpool a point against Atletico Madrid in Champions League Group D. Maxi Rodriguez's strike eight minutes before the end of the first half looked like it would prove decisive and secure the Spanish side's progression from the group stages.

But after spurning a host of chances it was left to Gerrard to snatch a late equaliser with a highly debatable penalty.

Liverpool nearly had the ball in the net in the first minute when Dirk Kuyt scrambled a close-range effort goalbound following Gerrard's corner but Leo Franco was well placed to grab the ball.

Atletico soon settled into a quick passing style of play which limited the hosts' chances until Gerrard troubled Franco from a corner again after 12 minutes.

Liverpool kept up the pressure when soon after Robbie Keane had the home fans on their feet when he collected a long-range pass from Xabi Alonso which he brought down well before crashing a volley from the edge of the box inches wide of the post.

But Atletico showed the threat they presented when after 18 minutes Mariano Pernia burst down the left wing and floated a cross into the Liverpool box which Simao fired over the crossbar and into the Kop.

Liverpool's response came from a corner again, as once more Atletico's Argentinian keeper looked shaky as he punched Gerrard's cross straight to Javier Mascherano who curled wide from the edge of the box.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure. Albert Riera chested a ball down to Gerrard five minutes later on the edge of the area, but as the Liverpool captain burst into the box Luis Perea appeared to whip the ball of his toes.

Keane went close again under a minute later when he was put through on goal, but Franco got a hand to the ball as the Republic of Ireland striker attempted to dribble round the goalkeeper.

Then eight minutes before the break the hosts were stunned as the Spanish side went ahead against the run of play.

Antonio Lopez was given room to run down the right wing, and he cut the ball inside to Maxi who was lurking in the box, and the Argentina international finished with a shot across Jose Reina and into the far corner of the net.

Liverpool continued to dominate possession but the visitors' defence stood firm as first Riera then Alonso tried to play Keane into the area in the opening five minutes of the second half.

They had a strong shout for a penalty waved away after 50 minutes when Perea looked to have controlled the ball with his hand in the box, but the referee was not convinced.

He did reach for the whistle six minutes later however to award Liverpool a free-kick on the right-hand edge of the box.

Fabio Aurelio curled the ball to the far post where Daniel Agger found himself with a free header, only to put the ball over the bar.

But Atletico were still a threat on the break and proved it on the hour mark when, from a Liverpool corner, Simao cleared the ball to Raul Garcia, who exchanged a series of passes with Diego Forlan before Forlan's final ball failed to produce any threat.

Agger had another chance to level moments later but the defender's volley was straight at Leo Franco. Gerrard was next to try his luck following some great passing from Liverpool.

Keane met Arbeloa's pass with a deft flick through the Atletico defence to the on-rushing Liverpool captain, who hit his shot over the bar.

Both sides made changes soon after and Liverpool's two substitutes combined well with 13 minutes left as Lucas Leiva flicked a ball to David N'Gog in the box but Pernia intervened with a perfectly timed tackle.

He then set his side on the break through substitute Sergio Aguero, who crossed to Maniche only for Jamie Carragher to clear the danger.

With eight minutes to go Agger spurned another good chance, heading wide of the far post, and Carragher also forced Franco to punch his curling shot from long range over the bar.

As the game entered the final minute of stoppage time Liverpool were granted a life-line as the referee adjudged Pernia to have fouled Gerrard in the box, the Liverpool captain grabbing a draw for his side from the spot.