Gerard Houllier has complained that Liverpool's fixture schedule is treating his players like horses - and they were caught in the finishing straight at Portman Road by a resilient Ipswich side.

Although that veritable thoroughbred, Emile Heskey, put his side into pole position just seconds after the break with his 20th goal of the season, they failed to hang on for victory.

Striker Alun Armstrong drew Ipswich level with 14 minutes left as they yet again showed their amazing ability to bridge the wealth gap between them and the supposed elite.

While Liverpool were not actually overtaken, with the point gained keeping them firmly in contention for a top-three finish, the two that slipped away will be those which should occupy Houllier's mind.

As will the fact that he wanted this game - Liverpool's 52nd of the season - postponed as it comes in the middle of a frantic fixture programme and maybe it was tiredness which eventually cost them dearly.

But make no mistake. It is not their Worthington Cup success, their FA Cup final appearance or the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup which truly interests the Frenchman.

His main goal is finishing in the top three of the Premiership and regaining the club's place in the elite competition of European football.

The strain certainly showed on him at Portman Road as he did a passable impression of Gordon Strachan on the touchline in angrily contesting decisions.

And he will know that it is the ability to secure victories and not draws, when your side is hardly performing like Grand National winner Red Marauder, that sets great sides apart from merely good ones.

Ipswich deserve continued credit for their superb season, having secured a 1-0 win at Anfield in December and also having drawn against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea at home.

They moved back into third place and fully deserve at least a UEFA Cup place.

That, however, is Liverpool's most basic requirement and they now face Leeds on Friday in yet another stern test of their Champions League pretensions.

In a bid to cope with the hectic schedule Houllier made six changes to the line-up which edged past Wycombe in the FA Cup semi-finals just two days beforehand.

It was still a strong side, however, and it was Houllier's decision to leave Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler on the bench as he started with Heskey up front on his own.

Danny Murphy and Christian Ziege were given licence to get forward down the flanks, as was Patrik Berger through the centre, but Liverpool's cautious tactics immediately set the tone.

Ipswich had most of the early possession but found themselves smothered in midfield, without the time or space to find their rhythm as the two sides cancelled each other out.

The first real threat did not come until 22 minutes, when a low cross found Marcus Stewart lurking at the far post only for the ball to rebound off him and into the arms of Sander Westerveld.

Liverpool were finally nudged into action, with Ziege failing to get his shot on target when he seized on a loose ball inside the penalty area.

But while Berger skied a long-range effort and Jermaine Wright's volley was parried, neither side was showing enough consistent passing ability to make any real impression.

All of that changed immediately after the break as Liverpool emerged with determination to make an impact and took just 14 seconds to do so.

Their goal owed everything to Heskey's pace and strength as he powered his way single-handedly through the Ipswich defence and guided his shot under the body of Richard Wright.

Igor Biscan threatened again soon afterwards and Heskey ensured the home side had to remain wary as he drove just wide on the counter-attack.

However, Ipswich were starting to rally and the strong emotions on the touchline - as Houllier and George Burley debated a contentious tackle by Heskey on Fabian Wilnis - were finally being matched on the pitch.

Substitute James Scowcroft headed across the face of goal after rising to meet a deep cross by John McGreal, while Jim Magilton fired over the bar.

Houllier was clearly rattled. He even made it onto the pitch at one stage to contest an offside decision against Heskey and brought on Dietmar Hamann for Ziege to add extra midfield resilience.

The Liverpool boss was right to be worried. With 14 minutes left, Armstrong escaped his marker to race onto a deep cross and finish first-time past Westerveld to put Ipswich level.

Liverpool unconvincingly tried to search for a winner, with Heskey's drive being held by Wright, while Ipswich also pressed late on.

In the end, however, this race was deservedly a dead heat.

Teams:

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Makin, McGreal, Bramble (Wilnis 62), Hreidarsson, Reuser, Jermaine Wright (Scowcroft 58), Holland, Stewart, Armstrong, Magilton.

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Clapham, Burchill.

Goals: Armstrong 77.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Carragher, Ziege (Hamann 73), Biscan (McAllister 81), Vignal, Gerrard, Berger, Heskey, Murphy.

Subs Not Used: Fowler, Owen, Arphexad.

Goals: Heskey 46.

Att: 23,504

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).