English Premier League: Half time report – Birmingham vs Liverpool 0-0
Birmingham were looking to take on Liverpool in what was the only game to be played on the 'Super Sunday'.
Both the teams were out there to prove a point. Liverpool were looking to prove that they were no longer the team that was falling from grace, but instead they were now back to their best. Where as Birmingham were looking to make a mark on the Premier League and prove that they were now ready to roll with the big boys in the League.
Paul Konchesky was handed his debut for Liverpool, however Alex Hleb was not available to play for Birmingham as he was out due to an injury.
Raul Meireles was handed a spot on the bench, despite it being assumed that the midfielder would also be given a debut start.
Fernando Torres was starting for the team but going into the game Roy Hodgson was reported to have said, "I think Torres can probably play three games in seven days - he is as capable as anyone else - but if you can spare your players you want to do that. Torres is nothing special in that respect. The thing about him is that he went to the World Cup with an injury, played without being fully fit and we are anxious to make sure that in this season he will be fully fit."
It was going to be interesting to see if the player would last the full ninety minutes.
The match kicked off with Birmingham looking to go on the offensive from the very first minute and to try and take Liverpool by surprise.
However Liverpool were not going to just stand there and let Birmingham walk all over them. They were containing the home team’s attacks and were looking to launch some of their own on the counter.
However early on, no real chances were being created by either team, as the ball kept travelling back and forth between them.
The first real chance of the game fell to Fernando Torres after Glenn Johnson pulled back a delightful ball for the forward, however the striker completely miscued his shot and fired the ball well wide. Almost everyone watching expected Torres to score off, of that chance.
The next real chance cam of Jerome's head in the twentieth minute. The forward headed down a brilliant cross, towards the goal, but an instinctive save from Pepe Reina, denied the home side from taking the lead.
As the half started to draw to a close it was Birmingham with all the pressure on Liverpool. However the team had Reina to thank for keeping them in the game, as the keeper made one terrific save after the other.
There was one minute of extra time added to the game. The half ended with Reina taking a goal kick and the referee blowing the whistle. Both teams went into the half time break with a lot of thinking to do. Liverpool would be looking to try and contain the Birmingham attack, while Birmingham would be wondering just how they can produce the final product in form of a goal.
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