Premier League: Birmingham v Liverpool full time report
Birmingham 0 Liverpool 0
Birmingham and Liverpool somehow played out a goalless draw at St Andrew’s, but it will be the home side who will be unhappy at taking a point.
Birmingham created a lot of chances as Liverpool failed to get their game going. Their stand-out player was their goalkeeper Pepe Reina, and when that is the case, they know they didn’t play well at all.
Reina had a fantastic game after a calamitous week for his country Spain in the international friendly against Argentina, and Liverpool have him to thank for holding on for a point.
The game failed to ignite in the first half, as the opening ten minutes were ones to miss, as neither side created a really good chance.
The first chance came on 12 minutes, when Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson went on a typical rampaging run to pick out Fernando Torres, but Liverpool’s No.9 couldn’t hit the target.
Birmingham’s first chance almost resulted in the first goal on 22 minutes, as Cameron Jerome’s header was superbly saved by Reina, who tipped the ball around the post.
Five minutes later, James McFadden curled a free-kick from the edge of the box over the bar as Birmingham looked to take the lead.
Fresh from captaining England to a win in Switzerland in mid-week, Steven Gerrard tried his luck from a long distance, but much to the delight of the home fans he failed to hit the target.
Birmingham once again nearly broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, as Sebastian Larsson came in from the right and found Craig Gardner, but his chip didn’t trouble Reina.
Four minutes later, Reina pulled off another fine save from Gardner having moments ago denied Jerome the chance to put his side one-nil up.
Defender Roger Johnson got onto the end of Barry Ferguson’s quality ball, and should have scored on 41 minutes.
At half time, the fans had the chance to see someone propose. Luckily for the man she said yes to save any embarrassment.
A free header from Scott Dann 10 minutes into the second half was a glorious opportunity for the home side, but he headed the ball down into the ground which bounced over the bar.
The Liverpool marking was nowhere to be seen, rather like their attack as well.
On 63 minutes it was more like the Liverpool we know, as Gerrard linked up with Torres, but his touch made the angle difficult to score from. He did manage to force Birmingham ‘keeper Ben Foster into a save, who has been much of a spectator in the match up until that point.
On 70 minutes another header from Birmingham came through Jerome, but he couldn’t divert his effort on target after captain Stephen Carr whipped in a good cross.
Liverpool couldn’t find their rhythm as Birmingham looked resolute at the back with Johnson and Dann.
Gerrard once again had an effort that sailed over the bar. His volley from the edge of the area went harmlessly over the bar 10 minutes from time.
Torres came to life on 82 minutes, as he ran from 40 yards with ball at feet but his tame effort was easy for Foster to deal with.
A frustrating day for Birmingham, who will feel they deserved all three points from this encounter today. A seventh consecutive Premier League draw between these two sides is now a new record.
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