Liverpool vs Birmingham (a) Match Thread

[Nic83]

what in good god was that from lucas? A professional footballer...

[bigfooty]

Crouch does well, Pennant slips it through to Finnan and its cut out for a corner.

Corner, outswinger, drops to Lucas who smashes it 40 yards over the bar. Hasn't got his shooting boots on today. Lack of goals in midfield in general really, only Yossi scored more than a couple this season.

[Philosophia]

Has Rafa shaved his beard?

[GordonGecko]

Kick-Off: 15.00 BST
Conditions: Sunny

Liverpool Team: Reina, Finnan, Riise, Skrtel, Hyypia, Plessis, Lucas, Pennant, Benayoun, Voronin, Crouch
Liverpool Subs: Itandje, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher, Insua

Birmingham Team:
Birmingham Subs:

Birmingham's team looks a bit light all over the pitch

[bigfooty]

Sunderland Boro 1-1 already.

Aimless ball forward goes through to Taylor.

[Nic83]

Lucas shocking start

[bigfooty]

Birmingham look poor so far.

Voronin in on a nice pass by Riise, picks out Lucas with the cross, better strike from the Brazilian but it is comfortable for the keeper.

[bigfooty]

Pennant in space but instead of going outside drives into the middle and 3 Brum players. Easily taken off him and Brum get a free-kick for Voronin's attempt to get it back.

[bigfooty]

Pennant again in acres of space but his cross is deep to Riise.

Yossi infield to Voronin, he attempts to pick out Pennant but the ball curves out for a goal-kick.

Our play pretty scrappy but we're the better team so far.

[GordonGecko]

Been a ripper from the off this game

[bigfooty]

Pennant hits the line, crosses deep, Yossi gets it but his cross is headed away. Eventually goes for a corner to us.

[bigfooty]

Pennant trots over, takes the corner, inswinger, headed away for a throw.

Atmosphere has died completely.

Plessis plays a poor ball across field, we give it away, but Birmingham can't make anything of it.

[bigfooty]

So far Crouch cutting a pretty isolated figure and Jaidi + Ridgewell coping comfortably.

[Gazmo1]

Watching this is like having your nipples sandpapered and then dipped in salt and rubbed with wirewool.

[bigfooty]

McFadden is in behind Sami but a yard offside.

We boot the free-kick straight down to Taylor.