The Martyrdom of St Stephen, Lorenzo Lotto, 1516
“Rafael Benitez was denied a victory to lift the intense pressure on him when Stoke grabbed a last-ditch equaliser at the Britannia Stadium. It was never pretty, but this much-derided Liverpool outfit stood up to be counted in a physical showdown. And they went ahead when Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos scrambled home his first goal for the club early in the second period of a bitterly contested battle.” (ESPN)

Robert Huth hits Liverpool with last-gasp equaliser for Stoke
“Rafael Benítez was denied refuge from the storm threatening to engulf him by a 90th-minute equaliser from Robert Huth. Liverpool thought they had won it with a scruffy second-half goal from Soitirios Kyrgiakos, but battling Stoke refused to accept defeat and their spirit had its reward at the death.” (Guardian)

Benitez: even Shankly had bad years
“For a heart-stopping moment, until Rafael Benitez’s dry humour revealed itself, history seemed to be about to repeat itself yesterday. ‘Before we start, some facts. Facts,’ said the Liverpool manager, whipping a note from his pocket in a reprise of the routine which preceded Liverpool’s last trip to Stoke City, 12 months ago.” (Independent)

James Lawton: Liverpool must dither no longer – it’s time to send for Hiddink or Mourinho
“Maybe it was an act of cynical cruelty by Guus Hiddink to suggest he might be available for the Liverpool job – and an additional twist of the knife for the club’s ravaged sense of itself that if it was to happen he would first seek a dispensation from his football godfather Roman Abramovich.” (Independent)

Stoke City 1 Liverpool 1: match report
“At this rate, expect Rafael Benítez and Liverpool to demand all their games last only 89 minutes. Yet again, Liverpool threw away two points in the dying stages, handing Stoke City a point they scarcely warranted, and extending their own run of poor form to five wins in 22 games.” (Telegraph)

Rafael Benitez thwarted again by late goal
“Liverpool suffered more heartbreak at the end of a game when Stoke City equalised in the last minute of their Premier League match at the Britainnia Stadium. After a season which has seen Rafael Benitez’s side lose crucial games right at the end of matches, it had seemed that Sotirios Kyrgiakos’s goal in the second half had given Liverpool and their beleaguered manager three valuable points. But Robert Huth scored after a period of sustained Sotke pressure in the 89th minute.” (TimesOnline)