Benitez was upset because his team now have two more home games this week, against Middlesbrough and Wigan, in which they need secure the points which could help book third place before a Champions League semi-final the following week against Chelsea.

The Spaniard said: "I am really disappointed with that performance. We should have been able to score when we were on top in the first half and controlling the game.

"But the way we played after the break was poor. Every time they had a long ball, a long throw or a free-kick we seemed to be under pressure.

"I do not think my players had other things on their minds, we had talked beforehand about making sure we were focused for the league games.

"We could have had a penalty at the beginning when Jermaine Pennant was pulled back, but they are saying the ball hit Jamie Carragher on the arm at the end, and that probably cancelled out the incidents."

City manager Pearce left before the post-match press conference.

First team coach Steve Wigley said: "Stuart has had to fly off somewhere, maybe a scouting trip somewhere and he had a plane to catch."

Pearce, who is trying to get several of his players tied to new contracts, knows he must improve City's squad for next season after this disappointing campaign.

They were more than happy with a point against the Champions League semi-finalists.

Wigley said: "For us it was a good point, Liverpool were champions of Europe 18 months ago and they could just as easily achieve that status again in a few weeks' time.

"We have now gone five games without defeat, we have pulled away from the relegation zone and the team has a determination about them to go right to the end of the season.

"We have 41 points now, but we want to get more and end on a high."