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Liverpool FC vs. Birminham City [P]+[R]
- Thread starter Atlas
- Start date
something from BBC Sports
Liverpool's Milan Baros is only 50-50 because of a hamstring injury while Harry Kewell is doubtful after picking up an ankle knock against Deportivo.
But midfielder Xabi Alonso is fit again after a calf problem.
Birmingham City midfielder Muzzy Izzet will return after a five-week absence with a knee injury.
David Dunn has not recovered from an Achilles injury and Clinton Morrison, who has had a cartilage operation, is out for at least another week.
Liverpool (from): Kirkland, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Kewell, Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Biscan, Diao, Riise, Baros, Pongolle, Mellor, Warnock, Dudek, Finnan, Henchoz.
Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Gronkjaer, Savage, Johnson, Gray, Izzet, Yorke, Heskey, Vaesen, Clapham, Tebily, Anderton, Clemence.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
# LIVERPOOL protect a 100% home Premiership record against a Birmingham City side, who could find themselves in the relegation zone if beaten.
# Rafael Benitez' boys, victorious away to Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League midweek, are aiming to add the Brummies to Manchester City, West Brom, Norwich and Charlton - all of whom have left Anfield without a point this season. The Reds are also on target to stretch a month-long unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games.
# Gerard Houllier's Liverpool scored six goals against Birmingham in the two Premiership contests last season. They completed the 'double' with a 0-3 victory at St Andrews in May after defeating a dogged Brummies side 3-1 at Anfield in November with goals from Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell and Emile Heskey. The Reds are now chasing a sixth win in seven home League meetings with the Blues.
# BIRMINGHAM CITY are just two places and two points above the bottom three, and without a win in eight Premiership outings, since a 1-0 home triumph over Manchester City on 24 August - their solitary League victory this season.
# Steve Bruce's side ended a run of five draws - the top flight's longest such string so far this season - with a demoralising home defeat by Crystal Palace. They haven't scored in three games, or 303 minutes (five hours three minutes) of Premiership football.
# City are hunting a first win in nine League visits to Anfield. They've only collected two points from the last 24 available at the Merseyside venue.
#
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
6th 17 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 5th
Lowest could fall: 7th
# Won nine of 17 games under Rafael Benitez, and exactly half their Premiership outings (five of 10).
# Six undefeated in all competitions.
# Won four and drawn two League and Cup matches since losing 1-0 away to Chelsea in the Premiership on 3 October.
# Drawn two of 10 top flight games this term. No other clubs have finished level less often in Premiership matches.
# Shipped 10 Premiership goals. Only Chelsea (three), Tottenham (eight) and Manchester United (nine) have conceded fewer.
# Four short of conceding 500 goals in their Premiership history.
# The next time the opposition score at Anfield will be Liverpool's 200th conceded in all-time home Premier League matches.
# Yet to concede in the first quarter-hour and last 15-minute segment of a Premiership match.
# Challenging for a fifth successive home Premiership win.
# Undefeated in seven League games at Anfield.
# Won five and lost two at Anfield since losing 0-1 to Charlton on 12 April.
# Conceded only once at home in the Premiership. Only Chelsea can match that.
# Scored in all four home games. Only Bolton and Arsenal have netted in all their home top tier encounters.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Club stats
Fixtures
16th 9 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 12th
Lowest could fall: 18th
# Won only one of the last 10 in all competitions.
# Lost the last two League and Cup games.
# Pressing for a first win in nine Premiership games.
# A win would bring Birmingham's tally of League points under Steve Bruce to exactly 150.
# Lost three and drawn five in the top League, since their one and only win so far, a 1-0 home success against Manchester City on 24 August.
# One of four clubs to have registered just one Premiership win this season (Norwich are winless).
# Completed just one win from the last 19 highest League outings.
# Nine points after 11 games makes this Birmingham's worst start to a Premiership season. They have 10 fewer points than at this equivalent stage last season.
# Drawn six times in the top flight. Only Norwich have also finished all square more often (seven times).
# Only scored more than a single goal in the Premiership once this season (2-2 home to Newcastle on 3 October), and once in 14 League outings.
# Only Premiership clean sheets this season have been home to Manchester City and Manchester United, and away to Southampton.
# Failed to score five times in the League so far this season.
# Not scored in 303 minutes (five hours three minutes) of Premiership football, since Matthew Upson's goal, home to Newcastle on 3 October.
# Yet to score or concede in the last 15 minutes of a Premiership game.
# Scored seven times in the highest echelon. Only Tottenham have netted less frequently (six times).
# Come from behind four times in the top division this season. Only Middlesbrough and Norwich have managed it more often (five times).
# Opened the scoring in only two top tier games. Only Norwich have managed that less frequently (once).
# Conceded the opening goal in seven top tier outings. Only Blackburn have allowed the opposition to score first more often (nine times).
# Not won a League game on the road in 2004, nor in 16 matches on their travels.
# Drawn ten and lost six since beating Leicester 0-2 at the Walkers on 13 December 2003.
#
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
# Steve FINNAN began his professional career with Birmingham.
# If on the field at kick off, Stephane HENCHOZ will be making his 200th start in a Liverpool shirt.
# If involved from the opening whistle, Dijmi TRAORE will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Reds.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Squad profiles
# If he participates, Emile HESKEY will be facing his former club.
# Muzzy IZZET is a brace short of 50 club career goals.
# If selected in the 11, Stephen CLEMENCE will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Brummies.
# If he plays, Jesper GRONKJAER will be making his 100th Premiership appearance - the ninth Dutch player to reach such a landmark.
# If involved from the outset, Damien JOHNSON will be making his 150th career club start.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Liverpool 3-1 Birmingham City
30 November 2003 - Ref: Neale Barry
Liverpool scorers: Gerrard 35 pen, Kewell 69, Heskey 78
Birmingham scorer: Forssell 33
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Liverpool 46 wins, Birmingham 26, Draws 18
Prem: Liverpool 2 wins, Birmingham 1, Draws 1
HEAD TO HEAD at Liverpool
League: Liverpool 31 wins, Birmingham 6, Draws 8
Prem: Liverpool 1 win, Birmingham 0, Draws 1
from BBC.co.uk
Liverpool's Milan Baros is only 50-50 because of a hamstring injury while Harry Kewell is doubtful after picking up an ankle knock against Deportivo.
But midfielder Xabi Alonso is fit again after a calf problem.
Birmingham City midfielder Muzzy Izzet will return after a five-week absence with a knee injury.
David Dunn has not recovered from an Achilles injury and Clinton Morrison, who has had a cartilage operation, is out for at least another week.
Liverpool (from): Kirkland, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Kewell, Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Biscan, Diao, Riise, Baros, Pongolle, Mellor, Warnock, Dudek, Finnan, Henchoz.
Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Gronkjaer, Savage, Johnson, Gray, Izzet, Yorke, Heskey, Vaesen, Clapham, Tebily, Anderton, Clemence.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
# LIVERPOOL protect a 100% home Premiership record against a Birmingham City side, who could find themselves in the relegation zone if beaten.
# Rafael Benitez' boys, victorious away to Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League midweek, are aiming to add the Brummies to Manchester City, West Brom, Norwich and Charlton - all of whom have left Anfield without a point this season. The Reds are also on target to stretch a month-long unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games.
# Gerard Houllier's Liverpool scored six goals against Birmingham in the two Premiership contests last season. They completed the 'double' with a 0-3 victory at St Andrews in May after defeating a dogged Brummies side 3-1 at Anfield in November with goals from Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell and Emile Heskey. The Reds are now chasing a sixth win in seven home League meetings with the Blues.
# BIRMINGHAM CITY are just two places and two points above the bottom three, and without a win in eight Premiership outings, since a 1-0 home triumph over Manchester City on 24 August - their solitary League victory this season.
# Steve Bruce's side ended a run of five draws - the top flight's longest such string so far this season - with a demoralising home defeat by Crystal Palace. They haven't scored in three games, or 303 minutes (five hours three minutes) of Premiership football.
# City are hunting a first win in nine League visits to Anfield. They've only collected two points from the last 24 available at the Merseyside venue.
#
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
6th 17 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 5th
Lowest could fall: 7th
# Won nine of 17 games under Rafael Benitez, and exactly half their Premiership outings (five of 10).
# Six undefeated in all competitions.
# Won four and drawn two League and Cup matches since losing 1-0 away to Chelsea in the Premiership on 3 October.
# Drawn two of 10 top flight games this term. No other clubs have finished level less often in Premiership matches.
# Shipped 10 Premiership goals. Only Chelsea (three), Tottenham (eight) and Manchester United (nine) have conceded fewer.
# Four short of conceding 500 goals in their Premiership history.
# The next time the opposition score at Anfield will be Liverpool's 200th conceded in all-time home Premier League matches.
# Yet to concede in the first quarter-hour and last 15-minute segment of a Premiership match.
# Challenging for a fifth successive home Premiership win.
# Undefeated in seven League games at Anfield.
# Won five and lost two at Anfield since losing 0-1 to Charlton on 12 April.
# Conceded only once at home in the Premiership. Only Chelsea can match that.
# Scored in all four home games. Only Bolton and Arsenal have netted in all their home top tier encounters.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Club stats
Fixtures
16th 9 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 12th
Lowest could fall: 18th
# Won only one of the last 10 in all competitions.
# Lost the last two League and Cup games.
# Pressing for a first win in nine Premiership games.
# A win would bring Birmingham's tally of League points under Steve Bruce to exactly 150.
# Lost three and drawn five in the top League, since their one and only win so far, a 1-0 home success against Manchester City on 24 August.
# One of four clubs to have registered just one Premiership win this season (Norwich are winless).
# Completed just one win from the last 19 highest League outings.
# Nine points after 11 games makes this Birmingham's worst start to a Premiership season. They have 10 fewer points than at this equivalent stage last season.
# Drawn six times in the top flight. Only Norwich have also finished all square more often (seven times).
# Only scored more than a single goal in the Premiership once this season (2-2 home to Newcastle on 3 October), and once in 14 League outings.
# Only Premiership clean sheets this season have been home to Manchester City and Manchester United, and away to Southampton.
# Failed to score five times in the League so far this season.
# Not scored in 303 minutes (five hours three minutes) of Premiership football, since Matthew Upson's goal, home to Newcastle on 3 October.
# Yet to score or concede in the last 15 minutes of a Premiership game.
# Scored seven times in the highest echelon. Only Tottenham have netted less frequently (six times).
# Come from behind four times in the top division this season. Only Middlesbrough and Norwich have managed it more often (five times).
# Opened the scoring in only two top tier games. Only Norwich have managed that less frequently (once).
# Conceded the opening goal in seven top tier outings. Only Blackburn have allowed the opposition to score first more often (nine times).
# Not won a League game on the road in 2004, nor in 16 matches on their travels.
# Drawn ten and lost six since beating Leicester 0-2 at the Walkers on 13 December 2003.
#
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
# Steve FINNAN began his professional career with Birmingham.
# If on the field at kick off, Stephane HENCHOZ will be making his 200th start in a Liverpool shirt.
# If involved from the opening whistle, Dijmi TRAORE will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Reds.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Squad profiles
# If he participates, Emile HESKEY will be facing his former club.
# Muzzy IZZET is a brace short of 50 club career goals.
# If selected in the 11, Stephen CLEMENCE will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Brummies.
# If he plays, Jesper GRONKJAER will be making his 100th Premiership appearance - the ninth Dutch player to reach such a landmark.
# If involved from the outset, Damien JOHNSON will be making his 150th career club start.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Liverpool 3-1 Birmingham City
30 November 2003 - Ref: Neale Barry
Liverpool scorers: Gerrard 35 pen, Kewell 69, Heskey 78
Birmingham scorer: Forssell 33
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Liverpool 46 wins, Birmingham 26, Draws 18
Prem: Liverpool 2 wins, Birmingham 1, Draws 1
HEAD TO HEAD at Liverpool
League: Liverpool 31 wins, Birmingham 6, Draws 8
Prem: Liverpool 1 win, Birmingham 0, Draws 1
from BBC.co.uk
Ubik Valis
Croatian Viking
Where's Biscan?! 
The Kop Kid
Senior Squad
Originally posted by enigma
If Baros and Cisse don't play, I don't know how many goals Liverpool can score.
2-1 Liverpool. I still feel they'll win, though.
Apparently Biscan is keeping Alonso out of the team. Biscan, what a pimp.
...and there I was thinking it had something to do with the fact that Xabi was injured.
I think we'll have the Brummies with or without Milan.
Originally posted by The Kop Kid
...and there I was thinking it had something to do with the fact that Xabi was injured.
Ooh, harsh eyerolling. I read somewhere that Igor is playing so well that they don't have to risk playing Xabi, who has a minor injury. Same thing. Well kind of.
Ubik Valis
Croatian Viking
Originally posted by enigma
Biscan, what a pimp.
manutd4eva
Fan Favourite
soccerbest
Starting XI
well done to Brucie. 
Unbelievable
Hamann and Garcia have 4 chances between them (2 cleared off the line) to win the match. Birmingham get a corner and Liverpool switch off allowing Savage to take a quick one. Upson's header saved but Anderton from 2 yards wins it with their first real chance of the match.
Unbelievable
Hamann and Garcia have 4 chances between them (2 cleared off the line) to win the match. Birmingham get a corner and Liverpool switch off allowing Savage to take a quick one. Upson's header saved but Anderton from 2 yards wins it with their first real chance of the match.
lplover2k2
Senior Squad
Toure??? You mean Traore
sad we lost
First defeat at home Not been a great start to the season so far. Bit disappointed as we dominated the game in play and possession but ultimately the lack of the main 2 strikers killed us.
On a side note Monaco drew 2-2 with Ajaccio, that made my day worse. Still with beer for cheap in Monaco you can't complain
On a side note Monaco drew 2-2 with Ajaccio, that made my day worse. Still with beer for cheap in Monaco you can't complain