Gerrard penalty saves Liverpool

The Liverpool captain converted from the spot after he was challenged in the box by Mariano Pernia and Swedish referee Martin Hansson awarded a debatable penalty kick.

The Spanish side had thought Maxi Rodriguez's superbly taken 37th minute strike was enough to book their place in the knock-out stages of the competition.

"If it was in the middle of the pitch it would be a free-kick. It was in the box and it was penalty. We deserved at least to score," Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez said of the late penalty.

Both teams, who are five points clear at the top of the group, must now wait for their next games to confirm their progression to the next round.

The manner of the draw was harsh on Atletico, having gone ahead through a goal of supreme quality by Rodriguez.

The Argentine deftly slipped past defender Jamie Carragher in the box to score from Antonio Lopez's smart overlapping run and cross.

Liverpool badly missed the finishing power of Spain striker Fernando Torres, who sat out for the second time against his former club with a long standing hamstring injury.