Blues achieved their best result of the season so far with a priceless point away to Champions League finalists Liverpool.

Rafa Benitez's men showed a few glimpses of their pedigree but were eventually frustrated by Steve Bruce's battling side as Blues fought a magnificent rearguard action.

Blues frustrated the home side for long periods and thoroughly deserved their point having withstood concerted pressure from the Reds.

Steve Bruce made two changes from the side which had gone performed magnificently in last week's crucial game against Bolton as Blues sought to win back-to-back Premiership games for the first time since December 2005.

Fabrice Muamba and Gary McSheffrey were replaced by Wilson Palacios and Borja Oubina, with the Honduran and Spaniard making their full Blues debuts.

The home side had the luxury of leaving £27 million man Fernando Torres and England hitman Peter Crouch on the bench. Ex-Blues winger Jermaine Pennant lined up against his former side.

The visitors who got the game underway, attacking the famous Kop End, but it was the home side that carved out the first chance in the third minute, with Babel setting Riise free on the left of the area and Riise hit a low drive across the face of the Blues goal and narrowly wide.

Babel was again involved a minutes later, wriggling free to set up Kuyt for a shot which went tamely wide.

Blues were forced into a substitution in the 13th minute, as Oubina went down under a challenge from Arbeloa, and a stretcher was immediately called for.

The Spaniard was replaced by Gary McSheffrey. As Blues reeled from the shock of the injury, Kuyt forced Ridgewell to concede a corner which Babel pulled back to the edge of the area where Riise fired inches too high.

Blues were again forced onto the backfoot as Palacios dwelled on the ball in midfield and was dispossessed by Babel, who fed Kuyt whose shot was deflected for a corner by Ridgewell.

It was Kuyt again who curled a shot wide in the 27th minute, as Blues continued to restrict the Reds to efforts from outside the area.

Blues responded with their first attempt on goal as the half hour approached, a wild shot from Palacios which drifted well wide.

The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated by Liverpool's inability to create chances, although Gerrard repeatedly tried to inject some pace into proceedings and remained dangerous.

Pennant was also causing Blues one or two concerns, with one delightful ball into the heart of Blues penalty area with Kuyt unable to connect.

With five minutes to go before the interval Liverpool created their best chance of the half, as Gerrard's free kick set up Pennant whose longe range effort was tipped over by Taylor.

Seconds later, Palacios stung the hands of the home keeper with a rasping 30 yard drive.

As Blues pressed again, Cameron Jerome put the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside by the linesman.

Half Time: Liverpool 0 Blues 0

There were no further changes for Blues as the teams re-appeared for the second half, and the home side too remained unchanged.

Liverpool kicked off attacking their favourite Kop End and Gerrard wasting no time in taking a shot from just outside the Blues area which sailed over Taylor's crossbar.

Soon after, Babel ended a mazy run with a tame shot wide of Taylor's right hand post. Blues responded with Kapo's flighted ball just eluding Jerome in the area.

After 57 minutes, Liverpool almost broke the deadlock, Carrager's goalbound shot deflected over by Djourou.

From the corner, Gerrard's side-foot volley was cleared off his own line by Nafti.

Seconds later, Djourou gave the ball away needlessly and Voronin forced Taylor into a fine save low to the keeper's left.

Rafa Benitez had seen enough and made his first change after an hour with Torres replacing Babel.

As Blues ventured tentatively forward, Palacios won a free kick 30 yards from goal, which Kapo fired goalwards and Reina scrambled to his left to touch it round the post.

Ridgewell became the first player booked on 64 minutes for impeding Reina as the keeper tried to mount another Liverpool attack.

As the Reds poured forward, Kuyt headed Riise's cross towards goal but Taylor collected easily.

Steve Bruce made his second change midway through the second half, with Garry O'Connor replacing Walter Palacios.

Moments later, McSheffrey became the second Blues player cautioned, for pulling Arbeloa's shirt.

Liverpool made their second substitution after 74 minutes when Crouch replaced Voronin.

Blues were almost behind two minutes later, as Torres showed wonderful ability to produce an overhead kick from just inside the area which looped only just over Taylor's goal.

Blues responded with their best chance of the game, Kapo releasing McSheffrey who had time to line up a shot from the edge of the area but blazed the ball wide.

Blues made their final change with just over 10 minutes remaining as Rafael Schmitz came onto the field to replace Cameron Jerome as Blues looked to protect their precious point.

After a wonderful passage of Liverpool passing, Kelly encapsulated the Blues ethic with a wonderfully timed last ditch tackle to deny Crouch.

Rafa Benitez made his last change with four minutes remaining, as Finnan replaced
Pennant, who received a warm send-off from both sets of fans.

As the clock ticked down, Torres again caused concern in Blues' penalty area and Queudrue conceded a corner. Crouch rose high to meet the ball, but could only send a header well over the bar.

Full Time: Liverpool 0 Blues 0

Blues: Taylor, Kelly, Quedrue, Ridgewell, Djourou, Larsson, Nafti,
Palacios (O'Connor 68), Oubina (McSheffrey 13), Jerome (Schmitz 79), Kapo
Subs (not used): Kingson, Forssell
Bookings: Ridgewell 64, McSheffrey 68 

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyppia, Carragher, Riise, Pennant( Finnan 84), Gerrard
Mascherano, Babel (Torres 60), Kuyt, Voronin (Crouch 74)
Subs (not used): Itandje, Sissoko

Attendance: 44, 215