Liverpool v Birmingham
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Anfield Date: 9 November 2009 Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage:Coverage on BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live & ESPN; full match commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 14.85 MW and DAB
Fernando Torres could play on Monday despite Rafael Benitez fearing both he and Steven Gerrard may require surgery.
Torres will test his groin injury with light training over the weekend. Gerrard is also doubtful but but Martin Skrtel returns after a virus.
Birmingham are without Barry Ferguson (banned) while Garry O'Connor (groin) and Keith Fahey (knee) are both doubts.
On-loan keeper Joe Hart could replace Maik Taylor after being ineligible to face parent club Manchester City.
Liverpool
Suspended: Carragher (one match) & Degan (three matches)
Doubtful: Aurelio (calf), Dossena (groin), Torres (groin),
Injured: Gerrard (groin), Johnson (calf), Reira (hamstring)
Birmingham
Suspended: Ferguson (one match)
Doubtful: O'Connor (groin), Fahey & Tainio (both knee), Martin Taylor (ankle)
Injured: Murphy (knee)
Just six weeks ago Liverpool beat Hull City 6-1 at Anfield and were only three points behind title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.
Yet six defeats in eight games later and Liverpool's season has virtually been written off. Lyon's last-minute Champions League equaliser on Wednesday has the 2005 winners looking at an early European exit. The Carling Cup is already gone and the Premier League appears to be following suit.
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I am happy with the performance of the players and that gives me great
confidence Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
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After being appointed Reds boss in 2004, Rafael Benitez proclaimed "Liverpool FC is more than just a football club. It's a feeling". Unless results improve, there is more than just a feeling that the under-fire Spaniard could become the first Premier League manager this season to lose his job.
Next up for Benitez are Birmingham, one of his bogey sides as he has never tasted a league victory over them. Improving Birmingham more than stifled Manchester City last weekend and are capable of frustrating an under-performing Liverpool side.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has this week empathised with Benitez. The Scot spent five years in charge of Rangers and understands that expectation levels from fans can not always be met.
On the field, there have been signs of late that newly-promoted and newly-bought Birmingham are beginning to get used to the Premier League. A run of four points from two games has supporters in high spirits as the club's new owners also start to settle into their new surroundings.
Head-to-head
• Birmingham have won two and drawn four games against the Reds in their last three Premier League seasons. However, Liverpool did win 7-0 in the FA Cup at St Andrew's in March 2006.
• Liverpool's last league win against Birmingham came in May 2004, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey all scoring in a 3-0 win.
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606: DEBATE
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Liverpool
• Liverpool have lost five of their 11 Premier League games this season, equalling their start to the 1993-94 under manager Graeme Souness, when they eventually finished eighth. It's 42 years since a side lost five of their opening 11 top flight fixtures and still went on to win the league title.
• The Reds have conceded twice as many goals and are eight points down on this stage last season.
• They have won each of their last three home league games, scoring 12 goals in the process.
• If selected, Yossi Benayoun will be making his 100th Premier League start.
Birmingham
• The Blues have scored just eight league goals this season - no Premier League side has managed fewer.
• They are yet to score a goal before the 37th minute of any Premier League game.
• Blues are averaging a point per game, the same as they had during the 2007/08 season, when they were ultimately relegated.
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Liverpool
Torres: 10 goals (10 league); Benayoun & Kuyt: 4 goals (3 league)
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Birmingham
Bowyer: 3 goals (2 league); McFadden: 2 goals (32 league)
Referee: Peter Walton
Assistant referees: Trevor Massey & Stuart Burt
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
Liverpool (L 1-3 v Fulham, a): Reina, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt (Ayala 85), Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun (Eccleston 78), Voronin, Torres (Babel 63). Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Spearing, Plessis, Dossena.
Birmingham (D 0-0 v Man City, h): Maik Taylor, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden (Fahey 61), Jerome (Phillips 88), Benitez. Subs Not Used: Doyle, McSheffrey, Parnaby, Carsley, Vignal.
Birmingham scorers: Forssell 34, Larsson 55
Liverpool scorers: Crouch 63, Benayoun 76
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