Birmingham (H) Build up

[PTP]

[Exiled_red]

[SB]

Maybe he can't get a game in the reserve team

Boom Boom

[Bender]

Kenny Dalglish has confirmed Liverpool will leave it late before making a decision on whether Andy Carroll and Jamie Carragher will feature against Birmingham.

Carragher was knocked unconscious during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, while Carroll was substituted during the same game after jarring his knee.

Defensive stalwart Carragher has made good progress but it is not clear whether he will be allowed to feature against Blues, while striker Carroll has not been pushed in training.

"We'll have to wait and see on Carra and Andy before the weekend, but it's only Thursday morning before we've even trained, so we've not got anything conclusive about either," Liverpool boss Dalglish said at his Thursday press conference.

Liverpool's injury problems have allowed the likes of John Flanagan and Jack Robinson to make their mark on the first team and Dalglish has been delighted with the progress of the youngsters at Anfield.

"We're delighted with what they've done and the fact it's been against Man City and Arsenal speaks volumes for them and the way they've been brought up," Dalglish said. "We just hope it continues, but at the same time we're not going to get carried away and we're not going to destroy the boys.

"We've got to be conscious of the fact they are only kids and we've got to know, and look for, any wee signs maybe it's a proper time to give them a rest if they need it. We've got to look after them and be consistent. We've got to keep our feet on the ground."

[Mostar]

Kenny's press conference

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y5UvwAGAYA&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Dalglish previews Birmingham City clash[/ame]

[souliv]

" Meireles has been hit and miss for most of the season, in the last few matches, he's been more miss than hit so imo should be taken out of the team and Joe Cole should be given a chance. "

What are you talking about seriously , Meireles has suffered slightly in the last couple games as he has been played out wide, but also he set up Carroll's header against City and also scored 4 goals , and you want to put in Joe Cole who has done nothing all season

[Kenneth]

" Meireles has been hit and miss for most of the season, in the last few matches, he's been more miss than hit so imo should be taken out of the team and Joe Cole should be given a chance. "

What are you talking about seriously , Meireles has suffered slightly in the last couple games as he has been played out wide, but also he set up Carroll's header against City and also scored 4 goals , and you want to put in Joe Cole who has done nothing all season

Even accepting the 'hit and miss' assessment, surely it's better select such a player ahead of someone who ha ony had misses.

[Exiled_red]

Even accepting the 'hit and miss' assessment, surely it's better select such a player ahead of someone who ha ony had misses.

[Mostar]

@OptaJoe
8 - If Liverpool v Birmingham ends as a draw it will set a new top flight record as the fixture with the most consecutive draws. Even.

[SB]

" Meireles has been hit and miss for most of the season, in the last few matches, he's been more miss than hit so imo should be taken out of the team and Joe Cole should be given a chance. "

What are you talking about seriously , Meireles has suffered slightly in the last couple games as he has been played out wide, but also he set up Carroll's header against City and also scored 4 goals , and you want to put in Joe Cole who has done nothing all season

Do us a favour and stick quotes in quote tags mate I thought you were having a go at Raul instead of quoting the "other" poster .

Your credibility is still in tact

[SB]

Carroll should be OK but Carra a doubt

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/liverpool/striker-hopes-for-reds-1201876.html

[frank the tank]

i reckon carra will play as well.....

i reckon we will win 3-0...............

i reckon joe cole won't play.......

i think that both flanagan and robinson will start and continue to do well....

[SB]

i reckon we will win 3-0............... because joe cole won't play.......

fixed

[RedReet]

i reckon carra will play as well.....

i reckon we will win 3-0...............

i reckon joe cole won't play.......

i think that both flanagan and robinson will start and continue to do well....

I hate Birmingham, we usually play **** against them.

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/...-ahead-170804/

That was before our 2 draws last year and the 0-0 this year. Another 6 poins dropped to the mighty Birmingham

[Mostar]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Alex-McLeish-has-revealed-he-tried-to-persuade-Andy-Carroll-to-play-for-Scotland-when-the-Liverpool-and-England-star-was-an-unknown-at-Newcastle-article726592.html

Big Eck tried to make Carroll a Scotsman

Alex McLeish has revealed he tried to persuade Andy Carroll to play for Scotland as he prepares to face the Liverpool striker with his Birmingham side tomorrow at Anfield.

McLeish, then Scotland boss, was aware of Carroll being eligible to play for the Tartan Army via a grandmother who was born north of the border.

But he failed in his attempt - as did current national boss Craig Levein - and Carroll has since played for England, scoring his first international goal last month against Ghana at Wembley.

McLeish said: "Andy Carroll has come on leaps and bounds and I did try and get him to play for Scotland when I was manager.

"I was aware that he had got Scottish connections through his family.

"He was about 19 at that stage, a reserve player at Newcastle, and I was quite hot on trying to get him to play for Scotland at that stage. But unfortunately he said 'no' and we all know what he has already achieved in his career.

"Certainly since he has gone to Liverpool, he has formed a great partnership with Luis Suarez."

McLeish is close friends with his former Scotland team-mate Kenny Dalglish and is not surprised he has been an instant success since returning to manage the Reds.

He said: "He is a legend, he has already stamped his mark on the team since going back in charge of Liverpool.

"He is a really great pal of mine but I've got to try and put one over on him."

McLeish believes one more victory may be sufficient to guarantee a third successive season of top-flight football for Birmingham, but is aware they have to cut out the sloppy goals which led to their downfall in the 3-1 midweek reversal at Chelsea.

McLeish said: "The goals were poor. However well Chelsea, did, the goals were rotten to concede.

"It is well documented that it has not helped us having an unsettled back four this season with all the injuries we've had in that department. But the lads have to be determined not to lose cheap goals like that again.

"When the ball comes into the box, they have to win it. It is all about honing their sharpness in that area.

"But this should be another game the players all want to play in and probably one more win should be enough for us to stay up."

McLeish is hoping striker Nikola Zigic will be able to play some part before the end of the season after his groin setback:

"We would love to get Ziggy back at some stage. He is still feeling a bit of pain but it would be good if he can contribute over the next few games."

McLeish confirmed top scorer Craig Gardner would be in charge of taking penalties after Sebastian Larsson stepped in to convert the spot-kick against Chelsea.

"There is no debate. Gardner will regain the duties," he said. "We had a bit of a laugh about what happened on Wednesday but there is a seriousness to it as well."