Mark Hughes insisted his Manchester City side felt a deep frustration that they were not able to hang on to a winning position against Liverpool.
The Premier League's latest pretenders to a top four position had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Anfield, having forced their way back into the match and taken the lead. Martin Skrtel had given Liverpool the lead, only for Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland to put City ahead. But within seconds of Ireland's goal, Yossi Benayoun grabbed Liverpool's equaliser.
City boss Hughes felt his side deserved more and said: "We restricted Liverpool to a very few opportunities but the ones they did have, they scored from. But we restricted their influential players from having an impact on the game. We were good on the break and carried a real threat in the second period when Carlos Tevez came on."
He added: "We had to chase the game, and Carlos gave us a real energy. We retained possession and got back from one-down to take the lead.
"We had another winning position and let it slip. We were caught straight after we had scored and had several chances to clear the ball before Benayoun put it away.
"My players are disappointed, they had an opportunity to win. Scoring twice and getting a point at Anfield is something you would normally be happy with.
"Maybe we will be come the end of the season, but at the moment it feels like a chance missed."
He added: "Liverpool will be happy with a point, on the day they were not the better team so they should be happy with a draw.
"If you do not make too much of a positive impact on the game you feel happy with a point. I felt we merited more, given our second-half performance.
"But there are signs of quality, and it is only time before we start winning games. Everybody can see that. It is a frustration to keep throwing away winning positions, in general play we were the better team."
Comment 1 - 11 of 11
Why on earth did Hughes substitute Barry on sat?
He was clearly citys most awake player [edged out dejong just] but Hughes saw fit to remove him from the field of play.
Ades run to him after scoring highlights the fact that the players recognised Barry as citys main man.
How many times have the players run to M Hughes or Bowen ==== ???? ==== nil.
Good job that last minute header fell to Lucas, otherwise Hughes and his pretenders would've gone home with nothing!!
City are doing exactly what Liverpool have been doing for years, drawing games they should win. You may not lose many games but it bites you on the a.rse at the end of the season. It may get you in or near the top 4 but the way City have been spending, they should be challenging for the top. Anything else is a failure.
City have 10 more draws this season, then they will loose out on Europa league. Miserable team. Money can't buy success.
Three times of late City have been in a winning position only to let it slip, 2-0 up against Fulham, 3-2 up against Burnley and 2-1 up against Liverpool.......the defence mainly the right and left sides needs looking at, these are the problem areas, Zabaleta & Richards are two decent right-backs but not world class, on the left Bridge keeps wondering off up the field and getting out of position leaving big gaps then we have the 35 year old Sylvinho as supposed cover (why Hughes brought him in is anyones guess) our central defence is good, Toure,Lescott, Kompany and Onouha, this lot are more than capable but it doesn't help when the right & left sides are not upto much.
Hughes has to act fast in January and bring in someone like Maicon on the right to start with,6 draws on the bounce in reality is not good enough for a top 4 finish but with all the other inconsistent teams around City
anyone who puts a decent run together could easily land 4th spot.
Should have kept Dunne, someone who puts his foot through the ball when needed. Lesscott is not up to the task.
Again defensive frailties have cost us the game. I would like to see Kompany & Lescott as a centre back pairing. Bridge & Richards clearly not good enough to take us to the next level. This must be sorted in Jan or else there will be no top 4 place.
We wuz robbed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be fair, i think he pulled a team & the reason for that is that they showed character. Sometimes.
For their capability of not finishing games is simple 3 reasons:
1- Not real Captain
2- You cannot build a new defensive system team in half a seaon
3- even though they have a character but the identity must stick, they don't have consistency yet & you don't get it by money.
Liverpool no class.
Mark Hughes, it is all about class and not cash. Either you have it or you don't, and we do know the answer to that, don't we?
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