Hull City once again produced a performance full of grit and determination on their travels to pick up a point from a 2-2 draw against Barclays Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.

All the goals came in the opening 32 minutes.

The Tigers had opened up a 2-0 lead thanks to Paul McShane's first for the club and a Jamie Carragher own goal, but a double from Steven Gerrard soon restored parity.

On City's first league visit to Anfield since August 1959, Phil Brown made one change from last week's starting line-up with Bernard Mendy replacing Dean Marney.

City played a 4-4-1-1 formation with Mendy on the right and Geovanni on the left.

Former Liverpool ace Nick Barmby supported Marlon King up front.

On the bench, ex-Reds goalkeeper Tony Warner replaced Matt Duke.

With Liverpool defending an unbeaten record in 12 previous meetings with the Tigers, Robbie Keane started on the bench for the home side with Dirk Kuyt up front.

City defended the Kop end in the first half on a slick, wet pitch.

The Tigers had early appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Alan Wiley when Barmby's low cross was put behind by Javier Mascherano.

Replays appeared to back their case, but a corner was all that was awarded. From that, Michael Turner headed over.

At the other end, Albert Riera's shot was deflected wide and from the resulting corner, the same player was penalised for a push on Ian Ashbee.

The Tigers took the lead in the 12th minute.

A free kick from the right was too long for everybody in the box but when Marlon King retrieved it, he lofted an inviting cross back into the middle where Paul McShane rose above Andrea Dossena to head home past Pepe Reina.

It was a goal that briefly silenced the home fans and left City's travelling army in dreamland once again.

Dossena almost made up for his poor defending on 15 minutes when his superb low ball in from the left caused danger.

Kamil Zayatte managed to prevent Kuyt from getting a touch before Sam Ricketts turned it behind.

City dealt with the corner well.

A superb turn of pace from Mendy had Liverpool back-tracking in the 19th minute, but his final ball just failed to pick out King, who would have had a tap-in from a central position.

The Tigers doubled their lead on 22 minutes with Mendy once again providing the amunition from the right.

After receiving King's cross-field pass, the Frenchman once again took on Dossena before firing a low ball across goal which was put into his own net by Jamie Carragher.

Unfortunately, Liverpool hit back straight away when Kuyt's ball fell into the path of Steven Gerrard and he had a simple tap-in at the far post.

McShane was then booked for obstructing Gerrard, although the midfielder made the most of the challenge.

It proved to be McShane's final contribution.

Having picked up a head injury, he was replaced by Marney in the 27th minute.

The influential Mendy dropped to right back with Marney coming in on the right side of midfield.

Liverpool equalised on 32 minutes.

City failed to deal with Carragher's cross after Ricketts had given the ball away and when Yossi Benayoun found Gerrard he had another easy finish from close range.

City responded with a Geovanni shot which Reina gathered at the second attempt before Riera's low effort flew just wide at the other end.

The home side were looking very dangerous going forward and they went close again three minutes before half time when Xabi Alonso's shot went just past Boaz Myhill's left hand post.

Boateng was booked during four minutes of added time when Gerrard once again went to ground easily.

Liverpool were piling on the pressure, but City managed to get to half time with no further damage.

Half Time: Tigers 2-2 Liverpool

The first action of the second half saw Marney booked for a late challenge on Sami Hyypia.

Liverpool still looked good going forward, but City were also enjoying bursts forward with Marney having his run brought to an end by Hyypia and George Boateng shooting wide.

City had a lucky escape on the hour when Hyypia headed Gerrard's corner against the post and from a swift counter attack led by King, Geovanni fired over Reina's goal.

Myhill reacted well to beat away Riera's drive before City made their second change in the 66th minute with Peter Halmosi replacing Boateng.

Marney moved into the middle, Barmby to the right, Halmosi on to the left with Geovanni going up front.

When Geovanni was gifted possession by Alonso in the 72nd minute, the Brazilian carried the ball forward before firing wide of Reina's right hand post.

At the other end, Alonso curled a shot onto the roof of the net after picking up Riera's pass.

City's final change came with 13 minutes to go and brought the introduction of Dean Windass for Barmby.

The departing Barmby was given a standing ovation from the Kop, as well as from his own supporters.

The change saw another rehuffle with Geovanni dropping to the right wing and Windass playing alongside King.

Myhill did well to keep out substitute Nabil El Zhar's shot on 82 minutes, gathering at the second attempt at the feet of Gerrard.

Marney's deflected shot brought City a corner in the 86th minute, but King's delivery was headed away by Hyypia, who had been a rock at the back for the home side.

He did blot his copybook two minutes later, however, bringing down Marney and earning a yellow card in the process.

Four minutes of time were added with Liverpool once again piling on the pressure in search of a winner.

Tigers (4-4-1-1) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane (Marney 27), Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Sam Ricketts; Bernard Mendy, Ian Ashbee [captain], George Boateng (Halmosi 66), Geovanni; Nick Barmby (Windass 77); Marlon King.

Subs: Tony Warner, Stelios, Dean Marney, Peter Halmosi, Richard Garcia, Daniel Cousin, Dean Windass.

Bookings: McShane 25, Boateng 45, Marney 47.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Pepe Reina; Alvaro Arbeloa, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Andrea Dossena; Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano (Lucas 87); Yossi Benayoun (El Zhar 75), Steven Gerrard [captain], Albert Riera (Babel 82); Dirk Kuyt.

Subs: Diego Cavalieri, Daniel Agger, Robbie Keane, Ryan Babel, Lucas, David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar.

Bookings: El Zhar 83, Hyypia 88, Alonso 90

His substitute appearance made Dean Windass the joint-third oldest player in Hull City's history. Deano joins current Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessanthaler on 39 years and 256 days.