Premier League Preview: Birmingham City vs. LiverpooL

Sandwiched in between Liverpool's Champions League semi-final tie with the Blues of Chelsea comes this clash against the relegation-threatened Blues at St. Andrew's.

The home side were on the side of a derby hammering last week last week as they showed their defensive vulnerability against free scoring second city neighbours Aston Villa.

That derby consigned Birmingham to the relegation zone for the first time since February, but they have impressed in front of their own fans this season and boss Alex McLeish has a couple of aces up his sleeve in the form of talented forwards James McFadden and Mauro Zarate.

Having drawn with Arsenal and beaten Manchester City and Tottenham already this season, Birmingham will be confident of producing another good performance in front of their passionate home crowd against a Liverpool side that will surely have one eye on their perfectly poised Champions League return leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Alex McLeish earned a reputation for causing upsets when he was manager of Scotland, who twice defeated France under his guidance. He expects a reaction from his side following what he described as "the worst derby defeat I have had as a manager". McLeish expects a reaction from his side tomorrow, "What has been evident in this team is that we are capable of bouncing back and we can do it again."

An improvement at the back will be needed to negate the threat of a Liverpool attack that is likely to include Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant, both on the scoresheet away to Fulham last week, as well as Andriy Voronin and Yossi Benayoun - all players who can trouble Blues.

Liverpool are likely to rest a number of their main players, just as they did at Craven Cottage last week, but even that weakened side contained 10 internationals. Whatever side Benitez chooses, he will expect to have too much for a newly-promoted outfit who have only won one of their seven. In any case, the previous three meetings between the clubshave ended in a draw, a result that may suit both teams again on Saturday evening.

It will be interesting to see if John Arne Riise is selected after his last-minute own goal handed Chelsea a crucial away goal at Anfield on Tuesday. The Norwegian left footer will have been rocked by his error, but with first choice left back Fabio Aureliio missing, Benitez may use this game as a confidence booster for Riise ahead of the return leg against Chelsea. Alternatively, Benitez may blood Argentine youngster Emiliano Insua, who has been impressing in the reserves all season.

FORM GUIDE

Birmingham

Aston Villa - Birmingham 5 - 1 20/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Everton 1 - 1 12/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Birmingham 2 - 0 05/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Manchester City 3 - 1 29/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Reading - Birmingham 2 - 1 22/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Newcastle 1 - 1 17/03/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool

Liverpool - Chelsea 1 - 1 22/04/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Fulham - Liverpool 0 - 2 19/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Blackburn 3 - 1 13/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Arsenal 4 - 2 08/04/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Arsenal - Liverpool 1 - 1 05/04/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Liverpool 1 - 1 02/04/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

TEAM NEWS

Birmingham

Sebastien Larsson is set to return from a knee injury to provide Birmingham with some more creativity in midfield. Captain Damien Johnson is serving a three match ban.

Last Starting XI (4-4-2 v Aston Villa): Maik Taylor - Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Murphy - Jerome (Kapo 58), Nafti, Muamba, McSheffrey, Zarate (Forssell 58), McFadden.

Liverpool

With fourth place all but sewn up, expect Benitez to rest a few key figures ahead of the Champions League return leg against Chelsea on Wednesday. Fabio Aurelio misses out with the groin injury he picked up in midweek, Daniel Agger is still missing with a foot knock, and Harry Kewell is unlikely to play for the club again as he has a hamstring injury that should keep him out until his contract runs out this summer.

Last Starting XI (4-2-3-1 v Chelsea): Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Riise 61) - Mascherano, Alonso - Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun 75) - Torres.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Birmingham - Mauro Zarate - The skillful Argentine has produced flashes of brilliance since he joined Blues on loan in January. The 20 year old forward has scored four goals already, and his goals have been key in the win over Manchester City and the draw with Everton that could end up preserving Birmingham's Premier League status. Showed his inexperience with a petulant reaction to being subbed at Villa last week, but if picked, he will be the best chance Birmingham have of upsetting the Reds.

Liverpool - Jermaine Pennant - Pennant returns to St. Andrews on the back of a goal last week at Fulham. The former Blues loan signing has lost his place in Liverpool's first team this season, so he will have a point to prove to both sets of fans on Saturday. Has crossing to the excellent Peter Crouch could be vital in sending his former club back to the Championship.

MPs To Investigate Liverpool Power Struggle

Liverpool's power struggle between the club's American owners will be part of a new inquiry into football by MPs.

The All Party Parliamentary Football Group is to launch a new inquiry into English football and its governance, and the Liverpool crisis is one of the areas it will target.

The club's progress to the Champions League semi-finals has been overshadowed by a row between co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Alan Keen MP, chairman of the group, said: 'English club football is enjoying great success in Europe at the moment.

'Yet many questions remain about the standard of corporate governance and whether it is best equipped to deal, at every level, with the long-term challenges of the game's future. This is the focus of the group's new inquiry.

'The group will examine case studies on governance, including Liverpool FC where the role of the owners has raised significant public concerns and overshadowed achievements on the field.'

The MPs, who published a comprehensive report into the game four years ago, plan to produce the new report in the autumn.

The takeover of Liverpool by Hicks and Gillett has thrown the issue of foreign ownership into the spotlight. Despite insisting they would not do so, the Americans tried to load the debt from the takeover on to the club and have since fallen out completely.

With the power split, the club is locked in a stalemate with Hicks demanding the resignation of chief executive Rick Parry and Gillett insisting he must stay.

The group's last report recommended a radical re-distribution of football's riches coupled with tougher corporate governance standards throughout the game.

Keen said there had been some improvements within the game since then but no, or slow, progress on the majority of their recommendations.

"Much of the game's corporate governance structure is opaque, to say the least, and does not reflect the best examples of British business," he added.

Rafa Won't Take Any Risks

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits he is wary about risking his big-name players in Saturday's game at Birmingham City.

The trip to St Andrews is sandwiched between the club's UEFA Champions League semi-final tussle with Chelsea, with the first leg having finished 1-1 at Anfield on Tuesday.

Benitez will send his team out at Birmingham this weekend mindful of the implications of any of his key players picking up injuries ahead of next Wednesday's jaunt to Stamford Bridge.

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have both asked to play against Birmingham, but Benitez is not keen to gamble with his squad.

"Everybody wants to play every game, I was talking with two or three big names and they said 'I want to play, I want to play', but I will have to analyse each one and then decide," said Benitez.

"The most important thing is the team and the club, so I cannot say 'yes' to everyone. It will mean I am taking risks, and I do not want to take risks.

"But the players want to play as much as possible, it shows the character and the mentality of the team."

The Reds sent out a shadow side to beat Fulham 2-0 in the Premier League last weekend and Benitez feels this Saturday's match with Birmingham is a chance for his fringe players to stake a claim for a possible Champions League final appearance.

He added: "I have told the players that it is important for everyone to play well, show quality and be ready, you never know when you will be needed.

"So whoever plays against Birmingham, or the weekend after against Manchester City, they have to play well. They may even have a chance to play in the final.

"We showed at Fulham that we have a squad strong enough to win games like this. We will try, more or less, to do the same this time.

"We will use different players and try to win because we want to make sure of fourth position.

"We will again use our full squad, but also pick a side to win at Birmingham. We did the same thing at Fulham, and won. People can complain, but everyone really needs to think about his own team."

Liverpool Close In On Swiss Defender Transfer Target

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Swiss international right-back Philipp Degen – as Rafael Benitez revealed that he discussed summer transfer targets with co-owner Tom Hicks at Melwood this week.

Hicks visited Liverpool’s training ground on Wednesday to meet Benitez and both parties have described the talks as being positive.

The Spaniard claims that the main topic of discussion was identifying potential new signings to bolster his squad for next season and one of the first of them should be Borussia Dortmund’s Degen, 25, who is out of contract with the German club at the end of the current campaign.

Benitez remained tight-lipped yesterday as to how close Liverpool are to sealing the move, confirming that talks are “progressing” for at least one of his targets but it is believed that many of the crucial elements of the deal are already in place.

Degen has made more than 70 Bundesliga appearances since his move from Basel, where his twin brother David still plays, in 2005.

Liverpool are also running the rule over Athletic Bilbao centre-back Fernando Amorebieta having sent one of their scouts to watch him in Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of Benitez’s former club Valencia.

The 6ft3in 23-year-old has been attracting interest from several Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Amorebieta was born in Venezuela but he moved to the Basque country, where both his parents originate from, as a youngster.

Benitez claims that ownership issues of the club did not crop up during his talks with Hicks at Melwood but confirmed that transfer discussions were top of the agenda. He said: “It was a very positive meeting. We were talking about some targets, everybody knows the names and how we have to progress.

“I think everyone agrees, we are progressing and I am satisfied. I have two owners, a chief executive and as manager I have a responsibility to improve the squad for next season.”

Benitez added: “We have a scouting department that is doing a fantastic job. The key is to inform everyone, so that everyone knows what the situation is.

“I don’t think we will need too much. The squad is much better now. We know what we need to sign, maybe four or five players. I don’t think we will need to spend big, big money, it is just doing the deals at the right moment.”

Benitez also revealed that the situation regarding the Anfield hierarchy speaking to Jurgen Klinsmann had also been clarified.

Liverpool’s owners disclosed that they had spoken to the former German national team coach late last year after a fall-out with Benitez over his role regarding transfers.

However, with the Spaniard hoping to remain at Anfield and now supposedly backed by Hicks, the situation has been resolved.

Benitez said: “I clarified everything. (regarding Klinsmann). We were talking about our targets. I think everyone will agree with the targets we want to sign and that is important for me.”

Meanwhile, Benitez confirmed that left-back Fabio Aurelio, who was stretchered off during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday will be out for three weeks.

The Brazilian suffered a tear to his adductor muscle and will miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign but could return for the Champions League final should Liverpool reach Moscow.

Liverpool Stadium Plan To Be Approved Next Week

Liverpool FC’s third stadium plan is set to get the go-ahead next week.

City planners have recommended the £350m proposal for a 60,000-seater ground is approved by councillors..

However, progress on the stadium is likely to remain in doubt as long as the ownership stand-off continues.

Liverpool’s original building plan for Stanley Park was backed by the council as far back as 2004.

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett ordered a massive redesign when they took over the club last year and their plan was approved last summer.

But it was shelved and redrawn a second time by Dallas-based architects HKS earlier this year when the tycoons decided it was too expensive.

Next month, councillors will have their say on a scheme showing a number of crucial changes, including:

The future capacity of New Anfield, after any expansion, has been reduced from 76,000 to 73,000.

The underground car park beneath the stadium has been halved in size.

A three-storey car park will be located under tennis courts and a games area in Stanley Park, shielded from Priory Road by a “green wall”.

The width, length and height of the stadium has been reduced by several metres.

The roof opening is smaller and designed differently to keep the crowd dry and help the pitch grow.

Plans for public viewing areas, a “skywalk” and roof terrace restaurant in the new Kop stand have been scrapped.

The redesign does not affect the restoration of the remainder of Stanley Park, which is underway and expected to finish in December.

A council report says: “The overall form of the stadium, with the Kop as the main generator of the building form will add to the city skyline, and create a positive landmark and a focus for further investment.

“The changes introduced in March do little to dilute the architectural quality of the proposed stadium.”

Planners said the scheme should be agreed if Liverpool agreed to meet certain conditions.

The club must make sure spectators leaving their cars in the stadium’s 970 parking spaces arrive an hour before kick-off and wait an hour after the final whistle to leave.

It must also pay for a yearly review of the residents-only parking zone around Anfield for five years after the ground opens – and fund any expansion of it.

Several community groups have objected to the plan, including Priory Area Residents Association (Para), Friends of Stanley Park and Stanley Park Preservation Society.

The council’s planning committee meets on May 6.

Rafa Benitez Urges Fringe Liverpool Men To Step Up

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will warn his shadow squad that they must be ready to step into the Champions League.

Benitez will send out another second-string side at relegation-threatened Birmingham tomorrow as he prepares for next Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea.

The Spaniard has proved in the past that he has no qualms about fielding youngsters and squad players ahead of big European nights.

And whatever the managers of Birmingham’s relegation rivals say on the issue, Benitez will not be moved.

But he also sees a genuine need for the players who will perform at St Andrews to prove to him they can be used in the Champions League if needed.

Benitez said: "I have told the players that it is important for everyone to play well, show quality and be ready, you never know when you will be needed.

"So whoever plays against Birmingham, or the weekend after against Manchester City, they have to play well. They may even have a chance to play in the final."

Already John Arne Riise, scorer of the own-goal that has given Chelsea a priceless 1-1 draw from the first leg, finds himself thrust into possible action at Stamford Bridge.

Riise was in the ’weakened’ side that won 2-0 at Fulham last week - another team selection that drew howls of protest beforehand.

But with Fabio Aurelio out for three weeks with a torn abductor muscle, Riise now finds himself a contender for the left-back role at Stamford Bridge.

And famously, Benitez recalls how Vladimir Smicer, who knew his contract was not going to be renewed, came off the bench in Istanbul in 2005 to score one of Liverpool’s crucial comeback goals in the final against AC Milan.

Benitez said: "Fabio Aurelio will be out for three weeks, so Riise knows he has to be ready and give everything for us, he knows he will get his opportunities now."

The Reds boss revealed that he has been badgered by senior men who want to play at St Andrews.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina is desperate to maintain his record of playing in every league game this season, while Fernando Torres wants to play to get his scoring boots back on after unusually missing three great chances against Chelsea in midweek.

Captain Steven Gerrard has also expressed a wish to play. But Benitez says: "Everybody wants to play every game, I was talking with two or three big names and they said ’I want to play, I want to play’ but I will have to analyse each one and then decide.

"The most important thing is the team and the club, so I cannot say ’yes’ to everyone. It will mean I am taking risks, and I do not want to take risks.

"But the players want to play as much as possible, it shows the character and the mentality of the team."

He added: "We showed at Fulham that we have a squad strong enough to win games like this. We will try, more or less, to do the same this time.

"We will use different players and try to win because we want to make sure of fourth position.

"We have not had too many good experiences at Birmingham in the league, they are a difficult side to play against.

"We will again use our full squad, but also pick a side to win at Birmingham. We did the same thing at Fulham, and won. People can complain but everyone really needs to think about his own team.

"We still need a point to be fourth. I cannot see Everton winning all three of their final games, but we need to make sure for ourselves as quickly as possible.

"Birmingham need to win and the game will be tough and physical. They will be playing under pressure because there are so many teams around the relegation zone. You win one game and jump a few places, lose one and fall back again. It is very tough for them."

Benitez will also have one eye ahead of the Birmingham game on Chelsea’s lunchtime clash with Manchester United that could decide the title race.

Such a game could drain Chelsea, but Benitez says: "I am not sure that we have an advantage with Chelsea playing Manchester United on Saturday.

"We both will have four days to prepare for the second leg, and with us playing at Birmingham both clubs will face a physical, competitive match.

"Chelsea’s game will be intense, yes, but then I expect it to be the same at St Andrews because Birmingham are fighting to avoid relegation. In the end I do not see either of us having an advantage."

Atletico Not To Sell Reported Liverpool-Target Maxi

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has underlined their aim of keeping winger Maxi Rodriguez, who is reportedly a target for Liverpool, for the next season.

Reports in England on Thursday claimed that Reds boss Rafa Benitez is interested to sign the 27-year-old Argentina international, who could once again combine with Fernando Torres, who had moved to Anfield last summer from Vicente Calderon.

"We've still had no offer for him, but our idea is to have him with us next season," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"You'll have to ask them (Liverpool), but Atletico have no plans to sell Maxi."