Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish says he has sympathy for Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez after Monday's 2-2 draw.

McLeish felt for Benitez if not David Ngog's part in the controversial penalty equaliser, the French under-21 striker being accused of diving.

McLeish said: "Liverpool are missing key players, world-class people like Torres and Gerrard. Any team is affected when they lose their best players.

"There is not a lot of understanding in the game when you lose people like that, it is the football life managers are in and you have to accept that.

"But you must rise above the storm, I have been through the same and you have to bounce back.

"Benitez is a top manager with plenty of medals to his name. I am sure he will also bounce back."