If Liverpool’s title challenge wasn’t already over going into their home game against Birmingham, it well and truly is now. Steven Gerrard’s controversial penalty earned the Reds a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Monday night and leaves the Reds 11 points adrift of Premiership leaders Chelsea.

But it was the way David Ngog went down from the challenge of Lee Carsley to get the penalty that provoked anger and frustration among fans and media, wondering whether Rafael Benitez’s team are now prepared to salvage their season at all costs.  Carlsey himself called Ngog’s actions an ‘embarrassing case of cheating,” while newspaper headlines echoed those recently aimed at Arsenal’s Eduardo, with suggestions that the Liverpool forward should also receive a similar two-match ban for conning the referee.

It is the latest in a line of difficult situations for manager Rafael Benitez to cope with, and the Spaniard has been showing increasing signs that the pressure is getting to him.

With five defeats from their first 12 league games, already out of the Carling Cup and facing the unthinkable prospect of Champions League elimination, Liverpool’s season looks like being over before the middle of November. Their victory over champions Manchester United in October just papered over the cracks – it is their only win in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Yes, they have been unlucky in terms of injuries to captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres (which could be even worse if he needs groin surgery), as well as the infamous ‘balloon’ incident at Sunderland and the on-going boardroom saga between Hicks and Gillett.

But, if they are having to resort to questionable antics in the penalty box, not many will sympathise with their plight. Benitez didn’t seem too concerned: After the incident against Birmingham, the Spaniard acknowledged: “Possibly it wasn’t a penalty but we have had a lot of situations during the year and one for us I think is not the worst.”

The worst may still be to come for Benitez.