BIRMINGHAM 1-1 LIVERPOOL MATCH REPORT

                                               MATCH REPORT

This was always going to be a tough game especially after playing away in europe on Thursday,  even though I don't believe tiredness comes into it at this stage of the season when there is so much to play for.  Birmingham have had a tremendous season and have made especially tough for teams at home.  I just felt Liverpool had to go for it and throw caution to the wind because the away form has been abysmal this season and I think this has been brought on by Rafa's conservative approach.

                                          Gerrard scores

                                            THE TEAM
The team Rafa picked was ok I would have changed a couple of things but the team and formation should have been good enough to win this.  I think Kyrgiakos came into combat Birmingham's physical approach,  good to see Gerrard playing deeper in midfield again but playing Lucas instead of Mascherano is a joke.  I would have swapped Kuyt and Benayoun,  with Benayoun playing just behind Torres and Kuyt out on the left.

                                          Gerrard celebrates

                                           THE GAME

I never saw the game other than one or two highlights but this is just my take on what I know about the game.
  What I gather the first half was very cagey and not many chances to be had.  Maxi was unlucky late in the first half hitting a shot onto the bar but that was the best of the first half.  The second half started better with Gerrard scoring a tremendous goal from an initial Liverpool corner which found its way back to Gerrard who turned Bowyer inside out before scoring with a great shot.

                                         Reina is beaten

Birmingham equalised about nine minutes later,  and it was a poor goal to concede from a Liverpool point of view,  with Ridgewell getting on the end of a cross to bundle the ball over the line with no Liverpool defenders in proximity  Liverpool new they had to win and they tried to take the game to Birmingham with the home side happy to defend.
  But then on sixty-five minutes Rafa brought Torres off which puzzzled players and fans alike. Later Rafa would explain that Torres was "exhausted" hence the reason to bring him off.  Exhausted or not he should have played on,  N'gogg replaced Torres and had one or two chances but unfortunately could not convert.  It ended up a very frustrating day for Liverpool and now leaving Liverpool having to win all their remaining games.

MAN OF THE MATCH-  MAXI saw clips and heard from others saying that Maxi had a really good game, was unlucky not to score and produced some great passes.

YNWA