Birmingham - 0 Liverpool - 1: Narrow defeat will be little consolation to Steve Bruce but he might reflect on how much better things seem than the last time Liverpool came here eight months ago. On that occasion Rafael Benitez's side scored seven times. A similar outcome never appeared likely last night with Daniel Agger's first-half goal the only difference between the two sides.
Liverpool would have scored more but for Craig Bellamy's profligacy. The Welshman missed a penalty and failing to take advantage of an open goal, although Benitez departed with more concerns than that wastefulness. Momo Sissoko was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder and could face a lengthy spell out.
Birmingham started brightly but Medhi Nafti was over-zealous as his lunge at Bolo Zenden in the 14th minute brought a yellow card. The Dutchman emerged unscathed but the same could not be said for Sissoko after a challenge with the same player. More than five minutes later Sissoko left on a stretcher after treatment.
The first half was already past midway and Liverpool had threatened only once. That attack came in the 12th minute when Mark Gonzalez raced on to Zenden's lay-off before spearing a right-foot drive over the angle.
Birmingham had already gone close, Julian Gray picking up Cameron Jerome's flick-on in the fifth minute before propelling a volley behind Jerzy Dudek's goal.
With two minutes of the opening period Dudek had to be sharp to deny DJ Campbell and Jerome before Liverpool struck deep in first-half injury-time. The pressure had been mounting with Gonzalez's shot ricocheting off Martin Taylor before Robbie Fowler saw his header deflected behind. There was to be no reprieve when the ball dropped at Agger's feet from former Birmingham player Jermaine Pennant's corner, the Dane thrashing his shot into the top corner.
Referee Howard Webb waved away penalty appeals at the opposite end moments earlier when Jerome fell to the ground after colliding with Gabriel Paletta.
Liverpool looked more likely to score again. Zenden and Gonzalez flashed shots past the near post. Maik Taylor saved smartly on both occasions but he was fortunate to wrap his fingers around the ball in the 55th minute. Pennant combined with Lee Peltier before crossing towards the six-yard box. Bellamy got to the ball first but his shot, from eight yards, was partially blocked by Radhi Jaidi, allowing Taylor to save. Bellamy had a better chance 10 minutes later when Jaidi hauled down Gonzalez in the Birmingham area. Bellamy, after telegraphing his intentions, saw his penalty saved. He could have made up for that within seconds but failed to touch home Zenden's cross.
BIRMINGHAM: Taylor; Kelly, Jaidi, Taylor, Sadler; Larsson, Danns, Nafti (Muamba, 68), Gray; Campbell (McSheffrey, 58), Jerome (Bendtner, 58). Subs not used: Doyle, Kilkenny.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek; Peltier, Agger, Paletta, Warnock; Pennant, Zenden, Sissoko (Alonso, 26), Gonzalez; Bellamy (Guthrie, 88), Fowler (Kuyt, 72). Subs not used: Martin, Carragher. Goal: Agger 45.
Referee: H Webb.
Guardian Service
