Premier League: Birmingham v Liverpool half time report
Birmingham 0 Liverpool 0
Birmingham have created the better chances in the first half at St Andrew’s but have failed to break through Liverpool, who have Pepe Reina to thank for keeping the score goalless at the break.
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 Liverpool ‘keeper 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.
Steven Gerrard, fresh from captaining England to a win in Switzerland in mid-week, 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 Gardner’s 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.
Reina was Liverpool’s best player in the first half, and as always you can rely on him.
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