• Date: Sat 26 April 2008
  • Venue: St Andrews Stadium
  • Ref: Walton, P
  • Attendance: 29,252
Birmingham City

Birmingham City

Forssell (34)

Larsson (55)

2 - 2
Liverpool

Liverpool

Crouch (63)

Benayoun (76)

Birmingham City vs Liverpool

Team Lineups

Birmingham City

Maik Taylor
Stephen Kelly
David Murphy
Radhi Jaidi
Liam Ridgewell (Franck Queudrue, 77)
Olivier Kapo (Gary McSheffrey, 77)
Fabrice Muamba
Sebastian Larsson
Mehdi Nafti
Mikael Forssell (Mauro Matias Zarate, 87)
James McFadden

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Sami Hyypia
Steve Finnan
Martin Skrtel
John Arne Riise (Emiliano Insua, 64)
Leiva Lucas
Damien Plessis
Jermaine Pennant
Yossi Benayoun
Peter Crouch
Andriy Voronin


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished 2-2, Birmingham throwing away a 2-0 lead as Benayoun's deflected header gives Liverpool the point they needed to virtually secure fourth place.

90

Insua's cross is just too high for Crouch as Liverpool continue to pile the pressure on late on

90

Frantic defending from Birmingham still as the game enters stoppage time

88
Substitution
 

Mauro Zarate comes on for the final few minutes, replacing Forssell

86

Larsson has to clear from Plessis shot, it's all Liverpool now late on

84

McFadden shoots just wide but he was offside anyway

83

Pennant was instrumental in both goals and he has been the best player on the pitch this afternoon

81

It could go either way now with just over 10 minutes left

78
Substitution
 

Gary McSheffrey is also on for Kapo

78
Substitution
 

Alex McLeish makes a double change with Franck Queudrue on for Liam Ridgewell

76
Goal
 

Liverpool equalise - Benayoun's header is deflected off Jaidi and into the the net, it's cruel on Birmingham

74

Liverpool win a couple of corners but they can't take advantage of them, the visitors are on top just at the moment

72

Pennant's cross is headed goalwards by Crouch but Taylor saves

70

Benayoun's first shot is blocked before the ball comes back to him but he can't direct it on target - chance missed that

69

Voronin fires a shot narrowly wide - much better from Liverpool now

68

Jaidi needs treatment and the action is held up temporarily

66
Yellow Card
 

Nafti is booked for a late tackle - the third yellow of the game

65

Radhi Jaidi wastes a great chance to make it 3-1 but Reina saves well

63
Substitution
 

Liverpool make their first change - youngster Emiliano Insua replacing Riise

62
Goal
 

Crouch makes it 2-1, a fine finish after a great run from Pennant had ripped the Birmingham defence apart

61

Steven Gerrard, who is on the bench, has been warming up and may be introduced soon as Ridgwell heads just over

58

That could be the goal that keeps Birmingham in the Premier League, a delightful free-kick

56
Goal
 

Larsson's free-kick is curled home brilliantly and Blues are two up

55

McFadden beats Martin Skrtel before the Liverpool defender brings him down for a free-kick

54

Stephen Kelly does well to stop Riise's run down the left

52

Birmingham's fans are in better voice in the second half but Liverpool are looking more threatening now

50

Benayoun's cross is overhit and Blues clear

49

Riise miskicks a volley at the back post as Liverpool start the second 45 brightly

47

Liverpool look to have more purpose about their game at the start of the second half

Second half
 

The action gets underway again with Birmingham holding what could be a precious 1-0 lead

Half time
 

Half-time and Blues lead thanks to Forssell's goal after 34 minutes.

45

Riise's free-kick flies narrowly over the bar

45
Yellow Card
 

Pennant is fouled by David Murphy and picks up a booking

45

Two minutes of stoppage time will be played

42
Yellow Card
 

Voronin is booked after clashing with Liam Ridgewell as we head towards half time

40

Crouch shoots from at least 25 yards out but Taylor pushes it away - a great effort from the Liverpool striker though

39

Pennant runs at the Blues defence and wins Liverpool a corner but the visitors fail to make anything of it

38

Larsson's corner comes off Kapo's head for a Liverpool goal-kick

36

That goal has woke the home fans up - it was a lovely composed finish by Forssell

35
Goal
 

Forssell puts Blues in front, turning the ball home from McFadden's cross

30

The home fans are very quiet at St Andrews as well but there's been very little action so far to entertain them

28

Larsson's cross almost reaches Kapo but Liverpool just about manage to clear the danger

27

Benayoun's cross is cleared as Liverpool look to attack again

25

It's been a disappointing opening half at St Andrews so far as Voronin is caught offside

21

Birmingham are very subdued still and haven't got going at all yet

18

McFadden can't direct his header goalwards from a corner and Liverpool clear

17

Larsson wins the ball well off John Arne Riise but he fails to make the most of the opening - better from Blues though

16

Forssell turns sharply and fires an effort on goal but it's straight at Reina

13

Benayoun's cross is deflected for another Liverpool corner but James McFadden clears

11

Birmingham look predictably nervous early on with a win vital as they battle to avoid the drop

9

Lucas does better with his third shot of the game but Maik Taylor makes a comfortable save

6

Pennant's corner again ends up at the feet of Lucas but again the young Brazilian's shot is high and wide

5

Lucas Leiva's shot is wild and flies behind for a Birmingham goal-kick

4

Liverpool have settled slightly the better and are keeping the ball well early on

2

Crouch and Andriy Voronin fail to link up after neat play from Benayoun

Kickoff
 

The game gets underway at St Andrews with relegation-threatened Birmingham desperate for a win

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez makes wholesale changes but Pepe Reina keeps his place in goal while Yossi Benayoun, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant all play. Birmingham make three changes with Sebastian Larsson and Olivier Kapo all starting.