Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League football next season faded further after they failed to overcome a resilient Birmingham City.

None of the EPL’s “big four” have won at St Andrews this season. But that will be of little consolation to Liverpool.

Liverpool had chances to win. But they were also nearly undone by woeful defending.

And manager Rafa Benitez inexplicably substituted top-scorer Fernando Torres after 61 minutes, although he later claimed Torres was “exhausted.”

Maxi Rodriguez came closest in the first half when his shot from a fine Torres cross was diverted onto the crossbar by Blues’ much-vaunted keeper Joe Hart.

Hart was powerless on 47 minutes when Gerrard picked up Glen Johnson’s mishit shot on the left flank, cut inside a defender and fired the ball home from a tight angle.

But nine minutes later, Liam Ridgewell equalised when given the freedom of the penalty area to bundle James McFadden’s left-wing cross past a horribly exposed Pepe Reina.

Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Torres’ replacement David Ngog all spurned chances for Liverpool late on.

However, City’s Lee Bowyer missed the clearest chance on 69 minutes, when he was left as unmarked as Ridgewell, eight yards out, but scuffed his shot.