Birmingham City against Liverpool

Merieles lumps in a looping ball but Foster claims it underneath his crossbar.

Gerrard's mistake allows Gardner a slice of space outside the box but again, his shot is poor and flies wide. It's like the World Cup all over again.

McFadden sticks his head into Carragher as they go for a ball and Liverpool win the free kick.

Torres charges 30 yards to the edge of the box and looks as if he has just manage to find space for a shot but Gardner is in before he can strike it cleanly.

Reina is out well to cut off a McFadden pass bound for Jerome. He chests the ball down and whacks clear.

Another attempt on goal, another one that doesn't trouble the 'keeper. Gerrard this time, collecting Maxi's knock down and volleying well over from 25 yards.

Larsson tries to feed Jerome but Liverpool clear before Dann clatters in on Torres. Fairly, mind.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Two subs in a minute as Konchesky takes a knock and Daniel Agger comes on in his place.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Lucas heads off, replaced by new signing Raul Merieles.

Now Maxi charges towards the egde of the penalty area before dragging his shot wide. Both sides have been poor in the final half.

Jovanovic scremas as Carr takes the ball from him but there's no free kick forthcoming, quite rightly. He gets up right away and gets on with it after that.

Now McFadden turns in an awful cross right at Reina. He's had a poor game too.

A lovely dink from Konchjesky as the free kick was cleared to him but Gerrard miscontrols and Carr is in quickly.

Carr bundles into Jovanovic and concedes a free kick. Liverpool free kick on the left.

A mistake from Konchesky allows Carr the chance to cross and though Jerome meets it at the back stick, he was back-peddling and can only glance it wide.

A poor ball in from Johnson is claimed by Reina.

A poor passage of play with both sides giving the ball away cheaply. Can either of them find a winner in the last 20 minutes or so?

Gerrard heads off again to have his ear seen to and now returns sporting a Terry Butcher style bandage.

Jovanovic fluffs a simple pass to Konchesky when he had space to cross. I've not been impressed with the Serbian today.

Now Torres gets his first proper sight of goal as Gerrard feeds Torres and he smashes one goalwards from a tight angle but Foster beats it away.

Konchesky wins the ball and has space to find a cross but as it comes in Torres' control is poor and the chance is lost.

Again Johnson (R) closes Torres down the second he finds the ball.

An aimless long ball can't find Glen Johnson as Gerrard comes off to get his ear seen to again. There's a trickle of blood coming from it.

Someone really should have been busting a gut to try and meet that cross. Torres was nowhere.

Gerrard tries to take control but can;t find the killer pass. He and Maxi swap passes before the skipper's whipped cross flies across the face of goal.

A free header for Scott Dann. There was a tumble in front of him but the defender meets it eight yards out and nods it into the ground and up and over the bar. A great chance missed.

A decent spell for Liverpool but now Jovanovic is penalised for a tug on McFadden. Birmingham free kick wide right.

For a second it looks as though thins might open up for Jovanovic but after working a shooting chance at an angle he scuffs his shot and Birmingham clear.

Maxi looks for a ball for Gerrard but Barry Ferguson slides in to intercept the ball. A vital challenge.

Konchesky turns in a neat ball to Jovanovic but his control is poor and Birmingham have a goal kick.

Another Liverpool move comes to nothing as Birmingham close down instantly. The ball goes from the left wing all the way back to Reina.

Gerrard looks as off key as Torres as he gives away possession cheaply. Those two just haven't clicked today.

Larsson swings in another free kick but Lucas is up to clear, then Bowyer's ball back in is poor and Carragher heads away.

Birmingham win a free kick but Ridgewell can't connect properly as the ball comes in.

An early opening for Gerrard on the volley but Foster is right behind his effort.

We begin again...

<b>HALF TIME</b> An entertaining opening 45 minutes at St Andrews and Birmingham definitely on top. they'd lead too, if it wasn't for an inspired Pepe Reina.

Glen Johnson givces away a free kick but his namesake Roger can't direct his header on target from the cross.

Larsson is the latest to have a go on goal but his volley is always rising and doesn't trouble Reina.

A cracking ball from Ferguson is met by Roger Johnson six yards out, but he was on the stretch and shanks it over. A tough chance, but a chance nonetheless.

Skrtel's poor clearing header hands Birmingham a needless corner.

Lucas wants a foul for a shove but as Birmingham move upfield Jerome blasts the ball over.

Another fabulous save from Reina as Gardner met Larsson's cross from eight yards out. A wonder save, before Johnson turned the ball behind for a corner.

Now Johnson slides in dangerously on Torres as he tried to swivel and shoot seven yards out but he got a bit on the ball and is saved.

Larsson's excellent cross from the right is somehow bundled away by Carragher then as Liverpool break, Glen Johnson's shot is blocked by Ridgewell.

Johnson charges out to block Lucas's shot and then as Birmingham break, Carragher stops Bowyer in his tracks.

Torres feeds Gerrard and goes for the return but the pass is far too strong. Is the telepathic understanding on the wane?

Larsson gets space inside the area after robbing Poulsen but for some reason when he cuts it back, Gardner tries a ridiculous chip from 14 yards. Poor.

A Liverpool corner comes out to Lucas who fires in a shot and though it flicked Ferguson's hand the referee is unmoved. Quite rightly.

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Now Ferguson repeats Gardner's trick on Lucas. The Brazilian is not happy and Ferguson gives him a mouthful. No booking, just a word.

Gerrard unloads from 30 yards but his effort is high and wide. From the school of McFadden.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Lucas brings the ball down and hacks it away just before Gardner clatters into him. It looked awful, but a booking is right.

Now McFadden tries to pull a corner back to the edge of the box but Maxi clears. A pathetic two minutes from McFadden. Alex McLeish looks away in disgust and well he might...

McFadden takes it and puts it high over the bar. Very poor effort.

A clever dummy from Jerome leads to Carragher clipping McFadden. Free kick right on the edge of the box, to the right side of the area.

The best chance of the match by far, and after a bright start by Liverpool it is now Birmingham who are in control.

Such a good save I thought I'd mention it twice...

What a save! A fabulous cross from Ferguson is met powerfully by Jerome and only a superb flying save from Reina keeps the scores level.

Gerrard is back on despite a hint of blood in his ear.

Larsson has a shot blocked by Konchesky before Gerrard takes an arm in the face from Ferguson but there was no intent.

Torres is late on Johnson, perhaps in retaliation for a few bumps from the defender earlier. Johnson wags a finger at him.

Two very sharp tackles on Gerrard by Bowyer then Ferguson. A clear direction.

Now Johnson has to clear a dropping ball as Bowyer's flick looks for Jerome.

Torres gives the ball away again. He looks a little rusty early on it is fair to say.

A good saving header from Skrtel as Ferguson floated a ball over the top for Jerome. Liverpool are doing the pressing but Birmingham look lively on the break.

McFadden tries to slide a ball into Jerome but he is a yard offside after stealing in behind Skrtel.

A decent run from Johnson down the right ends with a cross met by Torres but it was slightly behind the striker and he can only drag it wide.

Gerrard's corner comes back to him from Ridgewell but he scuffs his shot and then Torres almost launches a Birmingham couinter attack by mistake.

Carr clears a long ball and Liverpool have a corner.

Bowyer hauls back Johsnon and concedes a free kick on half way.

Gerrard hooks a ball over the top for Torres but the striker is miles offside.

Johnson cuts in from the right and tries to find Torres with a cross but he overhits it.

Lucas dawdles when he had Johnson free on the right. Ferguson blocks the intended pass.

A vaguely promising Liverpool move breaks down when Torres tries to skip round Ridgewell.

Gerrard and Torres get in each other's way as the ball heads into Birmingham territory for the first time.

Carr's first involvement sees him smash the ball into Jovanovic's face. Ouch.

We're off...

Last season this game offered up one of the enduring images of the last dregs of Rafael Benitez's regime, as the cameras focused on Steven Gerrard's face when the manager hauled Torres off. To say he didn't look happy was an understatement.

Liverpool have had a mixed start to the campaign, drawing with Arsenal before losing heavily at Manchester City. A narrow win over West Brom gave them their first win of the season last time out.

Birmingham are unchanged from their 2-2 draw at Bolton, a game they really should have won. They have one win and two draws from their first three games, and always present a stiff test on their home patch.

So, a full Liverpool debut for Paul Konchesky, and Christian Poulsen starts only his second game for the club. Gerrard and Torres, as ever, will be the heartbeat of the side, with Jamie Carragher completing the spine.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky, Maxi, Poulsen, Lucas, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Torres. Subs: Jones, Meireles, Agger, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog.

Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Gardner, McFadden, Jerome. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Derbyshire, Michel, Fahey, Zigic, Jiranek.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to live coverage of Birmingham's clash with Liverpool from St Andrews. Kick off is at 4pm BST and the team news will follow shortly...

Join us for live commentary from 1600 BST.

A mistake from Konchesky allows Carr the chance to cross and though Jerome meets it at the back stick, he was back-peddling and can only glance it wide.

A poor ball in from Johnson is claimed by Reina.

A poor passage of play with both sides giving the ball away cheaply. Can either of them find a winner in the last 20 minutes or so?

Gerrard heads off again to have his ear seen to and now returns sporting a Terry Butcher style bandage.

Jovanovic fluffs a simple pass to Konchesky when he had space to cross. I've not been impressed with the Serbian today.

Now Torres gets his first proper sight of goal as Gerrard feeds Torres and he smashes one goalwards from a tight angle but Foster beats it away.

Konchesky wins the ball and has space to find a cross but as it comes in Torres' control is poor and the chance is lost.

Again Johnson (R) closes Torres down the second he finds the ball.

An aimless long ball can't find Glen Johnson as Gerrard comes off to get his ear seen to again. There's a trickle of blood coming from it.

Someone really should have been busting a gut to try and meet that cross. Torres was nowhere.

Gerrard tries to take control but can;t find the killer pass. He and Maxi swap passes before the skipper's whipped cross flies across the face of goal.

A free header for Scott Dann. There was a tumble in front of him but the defender meets it eight yards out and nods it into the ground and up and over the bar. A great chance missed.

A decent spell for Liverpool but now Jovanovic is penalised for a tug on McFadden. Birmingham free kick wide right.

For a second it looks as though thins might open up for Jovanovic but after working a shooting chance at an angle he scuffs his shot and Birmingham clear.

Maxi looks for a ball for Gerrard but Barry Ferguson slides in to intercept the ball. A vital challenge.

Konchesky turns in a neat ball to Jovanovic but his control is poor and Birmingham have a goal kick.

Another Liverpool move comes to nothing as Birmingham close down instantly. The ball goes from the left wing all the way back to Reina.

Gerrard looks as off key as Torres as he gives away possession cheaply. Those two just haven't clicked today.

Larsson swings in another free kick but Lucas is up to clear, then Bowyer's ball back in is poor and Carragher heads away.

Birmingham win a free kick but Ridgewell can't connect properly as the ball comes in.

An early opening for Gerrard on the volley but Foster is right behind his effort.

We begin again...

<b>HALF TIME</b> An entertaining opening 45 minutes at St Andrews and Birmingham definitely on top. they'd lead too, if it wasn't for an inspired Pepe Reina.

Glen Johnson givces away a free kick but his namesake Roger can't direct his header on target from the cross.

Larsson is the latest to have a go on goal but his volley is always rising and doesn't trouble Reina.

A cracking ball from Ferguson is met by Roger Johnson six yards out, but he was on the stretch and shanks it over. A tough chance, but a chance nonetheless.

Skrtel's poor clearing header hands Birmingham a needless corner.

Lucas wants a foul for a shove but as Birmingham move upfield Jerome blasts the ball over.

Another fabulous save from Reina as Gardner met Larsson's cross from eight yards out. A wonder save, before Johnson turned the ball behind for a corner.

Now Johnson slides in dangerously on Torres as he tried to swivel and shoot seven yards out but he got a bit on the ball and is saved.

Larsson's excellent cross from the right is somehow bundled away by Carragher then as Liverpool break, Glen Johnson's shot is blocked by Ridgewell.

Johnson charges out to block Lucas's shot and then as Birmingham break, Carragher stops Bowyer in his tracks.

Torres feeds Gerrard and goes for the return but the pass is far too strong. Is the telepathic understanding on the wane?

Larsson gets space inside the area after robbing Poulsen but for some reason when he cuts it back, Gardner tries a ridiculous chip from 14 yards. Poor.

A Liverpool corner comes out to Lucas who fires in a shot and though it flicked Ferguson's hand the referee is unmoved. Quite rightly.

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Now Ferguson repeats Gardner's trick on Lucas. The Brazilian is not happy and Ferguson gives him a mouthful. No booking, just a word.

Gerrard unloads from 30 yards but his effort is high and wide. From the school of McFadden.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Lucas brings the ball down and hacks it away just before Gardner clatters into him. It looked awful, but a booking is right.

Now McFadden tries to pull a corner back to the edge of the box but Maxi clears. A pathetic two minutes from McFadden. Alex McLeish looks away in disgust and well he might...

McFadden takes it and puts it high over the bar. Very poor effort.

A clever dummy from Jerome leads to Carragher clipping McFadden. Free kick right on the edge of the box, to the right side of the area.

The best chance of the match by far, and after a bright start by Liverpool it is now Birmingham who are in control.

Such a good save I thought I'd mention it twice...

What a save! A fabulous cross from Ferguson is met powerfully by Jerome and only a superb flying save from Reina keeps the scores level.

Gerrard is back on despite a hint of blood in his ear.

Larsson has a shot blocked by Konchesky before Gerrard takes an arm in the face from Ferguson but there was no intent.

Torres is late on Johnson, perhaps in retaliation for a few bumps from the defender earlier. Johnson wags a finger at him.

Two very sharp tackles on Gerrard by Bowyer then Ferguson. A clear direction.

Now Johnson has to clear a dropping ball as Bowyer's flick looks for Jerome.

Torres gives the ball away again. He looks a little rusty early on it is fair to say.

A good saving header from Skrtel as Ferguson floated a ball over the top for Jerome. Liverpool are doing the pressing but Birmingham look lively on the break.

McFadden tries to slide a ball into Jerome but he is a yard offside after stealing in behind Skrtel.

A decent run from Johnson down the right ends with a cross met by Torres but it was slightly behind the striker and he can only drag it wide.

Gerrard's corner comes back to him from Ridgewell but he scuffs his shot and then Torres almost launches a Birmingham couinter attack by mistake.

Carr clears a long ball and Liverpool have a corner.

Bowyer hauls back Johsnon and concedes a free kick on half way.

Gerrard hooks a ball over the top for Torres but the striker is miles offside.

Johnson cuts in from the right and tries to find Torres with a cross but he overhits it.

Lucas dawdles when he had Johnson free on the right. Ferguson blocks the intended pass.

A vaguely promising Liverpool move breaks down when Torres tries to skip round Ridgewell.

Gerrard and Torres get in each other's way as the ball heads into Birmingham territory for the first time.

Carr's first involvement sees him smash the ball into Jovanovic's face. Ouch.

We're off...

Last season this game offered up one of the enduring images of the last dregs of Rafael Benitez's regime, as the cameras focused on Steven Gerrard's face when the manager hauled Torres off. To say he didn't look happy was an understatement.

Liverpool have had a mixed start to the campaign, drawing with Arsenal before losing heavily at Manchester City. A narrow win over West Brom gave them their first win of the season last time out.

Birmingham are unchanged from their 2-2 draw at Bolton, a game they really should have won. They have one win and two draws from their first three games, and always present a stiff test on their home patch.

So, a full Liverpool debut for Paul Konchesky, and Christian Poulsen starts only his second game for the club. Gerrard and Torres, as ever, will be the heartbeat of the side, with Jamie Carragher completing the spine.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky, Maxi, Poulsen, Lucas, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Torres. Subs: Jones, Meireles, Agger, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog.

Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Gardner, McFadden, Jerome. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Derbyshire, Michel, Fahey, Zigic, Jiranek.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to live coverage of Birmingham's clash with Liverpool from St Andrews. Kick off is at 4pm BST and the team news will follow shortly...

Join us for live commentary from 1600 BST.