Liverpool and Birmingham City are on course for a head on collision at St Andrew’s on Sunday, with the visitors having all to play for, while the home side rest in a comfortable mid-table position.
The Reds’ credentials of being a top-four side has been put through the acid test, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa still in the chase to break the domination of the so-called ‘big four’. And with the league entering the final straight, Rafael Benitez’s men will have to secure three points to retain any real hope of proving their naysayers wrong.
However, Brum have turned their backyard into a fortress in recent times, having not lost at home in their last 12 league games. Moreover, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal have all failed to beat the Blues at St Andrew's. The former Rangers boss will certainly look to add Liverpool as another feather in his cap, particularly since his side have a good record against the Anfield outfit.
The last seven times that the two sides have met in the top-flight has seen the Blues mange to scrape a point or more on each occasion. To add some more worry to the cauldron, the visitors have endured rough weather on the road and have scored just once in their last five trips away from home.
However, it appears that manager Alex McLeish has one eye cast on next season, as it recently came to light that the Carson Yeung owned club have begun to turn their attention towards pre-season for the next term in the form of organising a friendly with Hong Kong. Add this to the fact that the Reds produced one of the best halves of football this season against Sunderland last week, and one can already sense the tension and the consequences this fixture could have on Benitez’s promise of delivering a fourth place finish.
FORM GUIDE
Birmingham City
Mar 9: Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 13: Birmingham City 2-2 Everton [Premier League]
Mar 20: Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 24: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 27: Birmingham City 1-1 Arsenal [Premier League]
Liverpool
Mar 15: Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth [ Premier League]
Mar 18: Liverpool 3-0 Lille [Europa League]
Mar 21: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool [Premier League]
Mar 28: Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland [Premier League]
Apr 1: Benfica 2-1 Liverpool [Europa League]
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
No significant changes in the Brum squad, as Gary O'Connor (thigh), David Murphy (hamstring) and Lee Carsley (foot) remain sidelined and will be unavailable for this fixture.
Last starting XI (against Arsenal): Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Gardner, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome, McFadden
Liverpool
The Reds’ blockbuster summer signing Alberto Aquilani is a doubt for this game having succumbed to an ankle injury that kept him out of the recent Europa League tie with Benfica. Fabio Aurelio (thigh) and Martin Skrtel (foot) remain injured, while Maxi Rodriguez – who is ineligible to feature in the Europa League – will likely make a return to the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Albert Riera is expected to be left out again due to the fractured relationship with the Reds’ boss.
Last starting XI (against Benfica): Reina, Carragher, Johnson, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Babel, Kuyt, Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Birmingham City – Joe Hart
The Brum shot-stopper – on loan from Manchester City – has put in some exceptional performances this season, and will need to be on top of his game if his side are to continue their good run of form at home.
Liverpool – Fernando Torres
The Reds’ favourite rarely ceases to disappoint, and has scored 18 goals in 21 appearances in the league. ‘El Nino’ will likely have a say in the proceedings if the Merseyside club are to snatch the three points on offer at St Andrew’s.
The Reds’ credentials of being a top-four side has been put through the acid test, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa still in the chase to break the domination of the so-called ‘big four’. And with the league entering the final straight, Rafael Benitez’s men will have to secure three points to retain any real hope of proving their naysayers wrong.
However, Brum have turned their backyard into a fortress in recent times, having not lost at home in their last 12 league games. Moreover, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal have all failed to beat the Blues at St Andrew's. The former Rangers boss will certainly look to add Liverpool as another feather in his cap, particularly since his side have a good record against the Anfield outfit.
The last seven times that the two sides have met in the top-flight has seen the Blues mange to scrape a point or more on each occasion. To add some more worry to the cauldron, the visitors have endured rough weather on the road and have scored just once in their last five trips away from home.
However, it appears that manager Alex McLeish has one eye cast on next season, as it recently came to light that the Carson Yeung owned club have begun to turn their attention towards pre-season for the next term in the form of organising a friendly with Hong Kong. Add this to the fact that the Reds produced one of the best halves of football this season against Sunderland last week, and one can already sense the tension and the consequences this fixture could have on Benitez’s promise of delivering a fourth place finish.
FORM GUIDE
Birmingham City
Mar 9: Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 13: Birmingham City 2-2 Everton [Premier League]
Mar 20: Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 24: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Birmingham City [Premier League]
Mar 27: Birmingham City 1-1 Arsenal [Premier League]
Liverpool
Mar 15: Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth [ Premier League]
Mar 18: Liverpool 3-0 Lille [Europa League]
Mar 21: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool [Premier League]
Mar 28: Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland [Premier League]
Apr 1: Benfica 2-1 Liverpool [Europa League]
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
No significant changes in the Brum squad, as Gary O'Connor (thigh), David Murphy (hamstring) and Lee Carsley (foot) remain sidelined and will be unavailable for this fixture.
Last starting XI (against Arsenal): Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Gardner, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome, McFadden
Liverpool
The Reds’ blockbuster summer signing Alberto Aquilani is a doubt for this game having succumbed to an ankle injury that kept him out of the recent Europa League tie with Benfica. Fabio Aurelio (thigh) and Martin Skrtel (foot) remain injured, while Maxi Rodriguez – who is ineligible to feature in the Europa League – will likely make a return to the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Albert Riera is expected to be left out again due to the fractured relationship with the Reds’ boss.
Last starting XI (against Benfica): Reina, Carragher, Johnson, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Babel, Kuyt, Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Birmingham City – Joe Hart
The Brum shot-stopper – on loan from Manchester City – has put in some exceptional performances this season, and will need to be on top of his game if his side are to continue their good run of form at home.
Liverpool – Fernando Torres
The Reds’ favourite rarely ceases to disappoint, and has scored 18 goals in 21 appearances in the league. ‘El Nino’ will likely have a say in the proceedings if the Merseyside club are to snatch the three points on offer at St Andrew’s.
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