Birmingham v Liverpool - Match Thread

Jermaine Pennant returns to the Liverpool line-up against his former club as the Reds look to guarantee fourth place in the Premier League against Birmingham this afternoon. 
The 25-year-old winger, who turned in a man of the match performance at Fulham last weekend, comes into the side as Rafael Benitez makes nine changes from the team that was on duty in the Champions League on Tuesday.
 
Reserve team star Damien Plessis makes his second appearance for the club in the midfield while Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch will lead the attack.
 
The Liverpool team in full:

Reina, Finnan, Riise, Skrtel, Hyypia, Plessis, Lucas, Pennant, Benayoun, Voronin, Crouch.

Subs: Itandje, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher, Insua.
 


Not far off what I expected. We're well capable of getting the three points if Crouch can cause problems. Glad to see Reina keeps his place.

Hopefully Riise can have a great game to get that own goal out of his system.

Come on you reds!!

Looks like same formation. Might be wrong.

                            Reina

Finnan           Hyypia          Skrtel         Riise

                    Plessis       Lucas

Pennant             Benayoun             Voronin

                          Crouch

Insua will come on with 30 to go it seems.

3-0. Crouch Benny and Voro still the scorers for mine.

Good to see Rafa isn't trying to protect his "star" players for the Chelsea match! 

There's some players there with a point to prove, especially this close to the end of the season. After all, there are some names in that starting line-up that many people want to sell, so they should (hopefully) be really up for this one. Good to see Plessis getting another start after the excellent performance against Arsenal, be interesting to see what he can do against a "scrappier" team. Bet Riise is pretty fired up this afternoon as well!

John Arne Riise 6/1 to score a goal for Liverpool during the game.

John Arne Riise 50/1 to score an own goal.

Have the bookies got those odds the wrong way round?

Looks like same formation. Might be wrong.

                            Reina

Finnan           Hyypia          Skrtel         Riise

                    Plessis       Lucas

Pennant             Benayoun             Voronin

                          Crouch

                      Reina

Finnan           Hyypia          Skrtel         Riise

                    Plessis       Lucas

Pennant              Voronin                   Benayoun             

                          Crouch
I think it is like this, Voronin second striker & Benayoun Left winger.

I'd prefer we opted for this formation.

Reina
Finnan Hyypia Skrtel
Lucas
Pennant Benayoun Plessis
Voronin Crouch

Riise

Safest option all around.

John Arne Riise 6/1 to score a goal for Liverpool during the game.

John Arne Riise 50/1 to score an own goal.

Have the bookies got those odds the wrong way round?

 

Tell you what, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually gets his first proper goal today. Stranger things have happened.

Standard 4-4-2 today.

                   Reina

Finnan   Hyypia   Skrtel   Riise

Pennant  Lucas  Plessis  Benny

             Crouch   Voronin

Just to add to this match:

150th match in charge of the side for Rafa Benitez in the Prem.

Lucas has had 2 shockin attempts so far.

Birmingham not lost to us in 5 Premiership games.

Really?

Lucas with a pretty grim effort.

James McFadden is crap.  Just for the record.

Make that 3.

And Jaidi. He has been crap so far too. We are the dominant side, have more of the ball and doing all the attacking. Riise doesnt look too shot from Wednesday (Aust time).

I responded to an email from Birmingham City last week about contributing to their match programme as the 'away fan site'.  Just realised I heard nothing back.

Wonder if anybody got the programme today and could let us know.

The Torres song beaming now even though he aint in the side nor on the bench

The Torres song beaming now even though he aint in the side nor on the bench

Is he at the ground?  Strikes me as the kind of player who would be there in the stands TBH.

Plessis looks solid.  Momo without the attitude.

Benny is the ray of light in a somewhat dull game. Plessis looks good, Lucas is looking bad in his attack, Crouchy hasnt seen any of it and neither has Voro. Nothing doing so far.

Did Birmingham sign Voronin last transfer window? 'cos he ain't playing for us, thats for sure.

1-0 forsell

1-0  , forsell

nothing pepe could do about that.  i have to say, this is a sh*t match.  neither side showing much passion.  lets see if the reds turn it up a bit now