The post match tannoy at Anfield rang out with Beatles classic In My Life, which became synonymous with Liverpool’s epic journey to Istanbul in 2005.
And now Benitez will be looking for the same sort of passion from his players to ensure his side don’t miss out on the money spinning Champions League.
A second consecutive 2-2 home draw saw Liverpool drop further points as their title assault looks to have failed to materialise once again, and Benitez could well have a fight on his hands to finish the minimum requirement of fourth.
To view ClickLiverpool's exclusive minute-by-minute coverage from the game see: http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/126928-live-liverpool-fc-v-manchester-city.html
Football has often been described as a game of two halves and that was certainly the case in this fixture.
The first half was a drab affair with little real goalmouth action; however the second offered a feast of chances and match winning opportunities for both sides.
City almost claimed their first victory at Anfield since 2003, after coming from behind to lead 2-1, however Mark Hughes side were succumbed to a sixth draw in succession.
A crazy minute half way through the second half saw City on the brink of victory, to being levelled after just 27 seconds.
Stephen Ireland gave his side the lead, when he put the finishing touch to some intricate passing by City. Carlos Tevez played a slick ball into Shaun Wright-Phillips who held off Kyrgiakos who had come on for the injured Daniel Agger.
After finding space in the Liverpool area the former Chelsea man squared the ball where Ireland slotted home.
From the kick off Liverpool surged forward into the Citizens area, David Ngog lofted the ball over an oncoming Wayne Bridge and attempted to fire the ball home, a miss kick by the Frenchman deflected off Bridge and then Joleon Lescott and diverted towards the back post.
Yossi Benayoun was on hand to turn the ball home and get Liverpool back on terms.
The first half offered little in terms of chances, but Liverpool looked the more comfortable in possession than the visitors who relied on the pace of Bellamy and Wright-Phillips down the flanks.
The best chance came of the half an hour mark when Lucas found Carragher who was being utilised at right back due to injuries.
Carragher played the ball into Ngog who in turn played it inside to Dirk Kuyt; a neat square ball found Steven Gerrard whose first attempt was blocked by Joleon Lescott, only for his second effort to fly high and wide.
City moved the ball well but failed to complete the final pass on numerous occasions.
A swift move on 35 minutes saw Wayne Bridge play an inventive pass into Ireland; however the midfielder sold the Liverpool defence with an ingenious dummy and allowed Wright-Phillips to take over.
Conversely the England man couldn’t find the target and left Reina untroubled on his 225th appearance.
Queues outside Anfield for next weeks Merseyside Derby tickets can only be rivalled by the tailback for the Liverpool treatment table at the minute.
After just 20 minutes Rafa Benitez was forced into two substitutions with Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel being replaced by Kyrgiakos and Benayoun respectively.
Agger clashed heads with Kolo Toure and required five stitches.
The opener came just four minutes into the second half with Skrtel netting the Reds first goal from a set piece this season.
The Slovakian defender managed to get across his marker Adebayor and poke the ball past Shay Given.
However, Adabayor got revenge for his lack of concentration by punishing Skrtel.
Liverpool’s zonal marking will again come into question as a Craig Bellamy corner was met with a free header, which left a helpless Pepe Reina grasping fresh air as the ball hit the Kop net.
It was just five minutes later when Ireland found the net to put Mark Hughes men ahead; however the joy was short lived following Benayoun’s equaliser.
The introduction of Carlos Tevez was key for City and with the game locked at two a piece the Argentinean drove two shots into Reina’s hands.
A surge of late corners from the home side saw Lucas with a match winning opportunity; an identical situation to which Adebayor expertly nodded home at the other end was fluffed by the Brazilian and meant the points would be shared.
The draw means it is now one win in ten games for Benitez’s side, the Liverpool manager will be hoping next time the Anfield DJ selects his post match Beatles track it is Yesterday, with Liverpool’s problems being far away.
Liverpool- Reina, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Gerrard, Ngog
Subs, Cavalieri, Aquailani, Riera, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, El Zhar
Manchester City- Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Adebayor
Subs, Taylor, Onuhoa, Kompany, Weiss, Johnson, Tevez, Santa Cruz
Referee P Dowd
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