The nemesis came in the face of former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, who dealt a lethal blow to Liverpool's title chances as the Reds spilled for the endless time at Anfield this season, this time a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, February 22 2009.

Bellamy pushed City ahead minutes after the second half resumed. It took a determined Dirk Kuyt drive to level the score and leave at least a minimal hope for the Kopites and Rafael Benitez that the seven-point deficit was not an insurmountable mountain to climb and that this Premiership season could still be salvaged.

Benitez would tell you that hopes for the Premiership are still alive but fact is Liverpool had rarely threatened Man City all afternoon, until the very end, that is. Even after  Dirk Kuyt scored after Yossi Benayoun crossed the ball over to him the Reds had couple more chances but there was no real surge.

On three occasions Liverpool players failed to materialise on alluring circumstances when the ball was crossed in the box by Andrea Dossena; then a similar enticing confusion on 22nd minute when first Torres, then Riera and then Torres again failed to slot the ball home in the midst of a pinball scramble.
 
As the first half went on, the affect of Liverpool's string of interminable missed opportunities had its toll on the Reds as their confidence was gradually eroded and City managed to get a grip in the midfield.
 
City then manufactured the first admonition with a fierce shot on the half-hour mark when Stephen Ireland found Robinho with a 50-yard pass before surging forward to receive the ball in the penalty area in what was a mesmerising attacking manoeuvre.

After the Bellamy opener, Liverpool went forward, but something was missing in the cog. Be it Robbie Keane, Alonso, Peter Crouch or just plain and simple creativity, something went astray. It spoke volumes that the Kop end, not for the first time this season, was eerily quiet. Then Liverpool slotted one in and suddenly hope seeped through.

The Dutch international almost added a second to his name five minutes later with a venomous drive from 25 yards which ex-Geordie keeper Shay Given could only parry. Given  then salvaged a point for City seconds later when El Zhar's cross was headed across the face of goal by Fernando Torres to Benayoun, who half-volleyed too close to Given. And in the dying seconds of the match, Given saved a third powerful Benayoun strike in a frantic finish, but the Reds failed to get a winner and trailed Manchester United by seven points. That last Liverpool siege of the City goal had that deja-vu feeling of "too little too late".

Disappearing in a flash down the tunnel after the final whistle, and visibly disappointed from the match's proceedings, Benitez refused to admit defeat. "I have confidence that we can still win it, but we must win our next two league games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then win against Manchester United at Old Trafford," he said, as quoted by the BBC. "Then we may have a different situation. But I just accept that this has been a bad result and it clearly makes it more difficult for us to win the title. ... We have to win our games and see where that takes us. And clearly Manchester United are playing well and winning games."

Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher (captain), Skrtel, Arbeloa, Riera, Mascherano, Leiva, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Hyypia, El Zhar, Babel, Ngog, Cavalieri, Aurelio, Spearing.
 
Manchester City: Given, Bridge, Dunne (captain), Onuoha, Richards, Ireland, Kompany, De Jong, Zabaleta, Bellamy. Subs - Vassell, Hart, Blumer, Weiss, Caicedo, Evans, Garrido.