22.9.07  BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Liverpool vs Birmingham 0-0 (www.lfc.tv)


Liverpool have been held to a second successive draw in the Barclays Premier League after Birmingham left Anfield with a point following a goalless stalemate.

The Reds controlled the match almost from start to finish but were ultimately left frustrated as Steve Bruce continued his impressive record of never losing a league match against Rafael Benitez's men.

The result means the Reds are now three points off the pace at the top of the table following Arsenal's home victory over Derby County.

Liverpool enjoyed enough possession to have created a hatful of chances, but the frustration for Benitez will be found in the statistics which will show Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor was rarely threatened throughout the 90 minutes.

The Reds may have blown Derby County away with some sizzling football in their last Anfield clash, but they found Birmingham a much tougher nut to crack and were ultimately left to rue a missed opportunity to pick up three precious points.

With record signing Fernando Torres left on the bench, Benitez paired Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in attack with Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant employed on the wings to provide the ammunition.

Birmingham, predictably, were happy to defend in numbers and swamp the midfield “ tactics which ultimately reaped reward but didn't help contribute towards a free-flowing game.

The early stages looked promising for the home side with John Arne Riise fizzing a low cross across the face of goal which Voronin almost connected with in the six yard box, while Kuyt attempted to strike an early blow but saw a couple of efforts from distance miss the target.

However, the cohesive football we've been used to seeing from Liverpool this season struggled to show itself as the half wore on, with the Birmingham defence remaining resolute in the face of stern pressure.

It took the Reds an hour before they seriously tested Taylor in the Birmingham goal, when Voronin took advantage of a poor clearance from Johan Djourou and smashed a low drive goalwards which was well turned away to safety.

Torres was introduced to the action after an hour and almost grabbed a spectacular opener with an overhead kick from Pennant's cross which just cleared the bar at the Kop end.

The Spaniard also came close to creating a winner for Steven Gerrard with a clever back-heel into his skipper's path inside the area, but just as Gerrard was set to pull the trigger Liam Ridgewell intervened with a last ditch tackle.

Peter Crouch came on to add fresh legs to the Reds' attack, but in the end the visitors held on relatively comfortably for a hard earned point.
 

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Pennant (Finnan 87), Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel (Torres 60), Kuyt, Voronin (Crouch 74).

Subs Not Used: Itandje, Sissoko.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Djourou, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Larsson, Palacios (O'Connor 68), Nafti, Melendez (McSheffrey 13), Kapo, Jerome (Schmitz 80).

Subs Not Used: Kingson, Forssell.
Booked: Ridgewell, McSheffrey.

Att: 44,215
Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).