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Anfield
November 9th
Kick Off: 8.00pm

Liverpool will look to move up the Premier League from their current 7th position, with a win over Birmingham at Anfield on Monday night. The Reds almost did their Champions League campaign a huge boost when they took a late lead against Lyon last week, but the French side hit back with an equalising blow which still leaves Liverpool’s qualifying position in a lot of doubt. The draw has left Liverpool’s record as six defeats in their last eight games in all competitions. This however, is a chance to start building some form and momentum.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will be hoping that Fernando Torres comes through a fitness test and is able to take part. The Reds really need his awesome presence at the moment, for if anyone is going to ease the pressure off Benitez, then it is going to be him. Steven Gerrard, who has been out with an injury too, has been back in training, but there is only a slim chance that he will take the field against Birmingham. With Birmingham down in 15th position, this is the ideal chance for Liverpool to build on what they achieved in Lyon. Even with a weakened side, should they not field Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool should still have enough in the tank at Anfield to beat Birmingham.

Blues boss Alex McLeish recently gained a valuable win over Sunderland in the league, and then followed it up with a 0-0 finish against draw specialists Manchester City. The Scot will know that his team have not been good on the road, winning only one and losing four. Birmingham’s problems are in front of goal, where they have only mustered eight in the league so far, the exact amount which they have conceded in all of their away games. They do not have a bad defensive record really, but there has just not been enough of a balance in going forwards to back things up. The Blues, who have recently been taken over, are hoping that the January transfer window comes sooner rather than later.

So too may Rafa Benitez, if he is going to be given cash to spend. On the current view of things, they do, certainly if they want to compete with Chelsea, who opened up a five point gap over Manchester United with a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It is a disappointing predicament for Liverpool fans, seeing that such early in the season, a lot of hopes have gone. It seems a far stretch for them to have realistic Premier League dreams, they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by a young Arsenal side, and their Champions League progress has been seriously impaired. Where to turn to for Benitez in front of the Kop on Monday night, if they cannot produce a much needed win?

Liverpool to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Ladbrokes
Birmingham to win: 10/1 at BetFred

Betting Advice: Birmingham will probably be happy enough with a draw at Anfield. It is probably how they will go and set their stall out anyway, hoping to catch the often vulnerable reds on the break. Liverpool should win, even if it’s a scrappy 1-0 affair, so it could be worth taking that, or perhaps backing a Birmingham surprise, especially after how Fulham outsmarted the Reds.
Liverpool to win 1-0: 13/2 at Victor Chandler
Birmingham Draw No Bet: 8/1 at 888Sport