Still without Yaya Toure, Manuel Pellegrini's men were unimpressive throughout and conceded not long before half-time when David Meyler capitalised on the rebound from a Gaston Ramirez effort that hit the post.
The hosts dominated play in the second half as they searched for an equaliser and finally levelled matters at the death when James Milner found the net but they still fell six points behind Chelsea, who won at Aston Villa.
