9/11: Liverpool v. Birmingham City (R)

[YanksFC]

Match preview here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2245880.stm

Smicer's out, of course, with the toe. Dudek should be ready. Carragher is in the squad.

No television in the US. :(

[JRedknapp11]

It is on Sentianna... i always mispell that company but they are the ones who always hold the pay per view matches.... most bars and pubs have them as a supplier or people with those massive dish's in their back yards.

[BrianCappellieri]

icBirmingham (http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/globalsport/page.cfm?objectid=12186923&method=full&siteid=50002)We won't bottle it - Bruce

Steve Bruce has vowed that Blues will not "surrender" like they did on their last visit to Liverpool.

SkySports (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,70085-1063861,00.html)TEAM NEWS

Liverpool
The Reds will be without Vladimir Smicer for at least three weeks after he broke a toe playing for the Czech Republic last week.

Birmingham
Blues are waiting on the fitness of summer signing Aliou Cisse ahead of the trip to Anfield.


Scotsman (http://www.sport.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=5171913)Cisse Is Blues Injury Doubt

Senegal skipper Aliou Cisse is Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce’s only injury worry ahead of tomorrow night’s Premiership clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

SoccerAge Preview (http://www.soccerage.com/en/13/h1559.html)Liverpool Vs Birmingham

This might be a very methodological game for the Reds: "Do not concede a goal, score early, dominate possession and secure three points". On the other hand, Birmingham may have a game plan on their own after their inspirational win over Leeds last week: "Maintain the same positive attitude as we did against Leeds, take our chances well and not be distracted by the home crowd".

SoccerAge Prediction (http://www.soccerage.com/en/13/h1558.html)Liverpool V Birmingham

Nobody expected Liverpool to concede two goals in each of their last two games. But some sloppy defense and carelessness cost Liverpool especially in their game against Newcastle. Even fewer people predicted that Birmingham could beat Leeds. Now, team will be riding high and should focus on testing what seems to be a defensive lapse in the Liverpool defence.

[kopiteinkc]

Latest news indicates that Carragher will play and that Xavier is not even one of the subs.

[liverbird]

Team Sheet

Dudek
Traore
Hyypia
Henchoz
CARRAGHER
Riise
Hamann
Gerrard
Murphy
Owen
Diouf

SUBS:
Diao
Heskey
Baros
Berger
Kirkland

[kopiteinkc]

Free live text commentary today at:

http://www.redandwhitekop.net/chat/

[TheMutts]

You can listen to it by going to Socceraudio.com then to the UK then to Briminghan. It is free.


It is 1-0 Liverpool in the 36th

[TheMutts]

Goal by Danny Murphy on a free kick.

[kopiteinkc]

HT 1-0 (Murphy free kick)

[YanksFC]

Originally posted by TheMutts
You can listen to it by going to Socceraudio.com then to the UK then to Briminghan. It is free.


It is 1-0 Liverpool in the 36th

Nice. Thanks for the link.

[YanksFC]

2-0 Reds. Stevie G. from Diouf.

[TheMutts]

make that 2-1 goal by the Blues

[TheMutts]

YOU CANT BE SEROIUS.

Birmigham ties it with 5 seconds left. I cant believe it. O no.

[YanksFC]

F'ing son of a bitch. Morrison puts one in the net with seconds to go to produce a 2-2 draw. Full time, folks. The Reds let another victory slip through their grasp.

[Theo]

ahh..it was agonizing following that on soccernet's scoreboard.


hate to say it...but these kinds of results are what costs you the championship...

[655321]

Of all the freaking people...

[JRedknapp11]

Traore didn't look so hot out there....helping to prove my point that Hamann has been playing for both of them.

Berger was an instant spark on the pitch and did well to give some much added creativity...I hope he gets a few more chances to shine throught out the season.

Owen again has me wondering when he'll finally hit his stride and find his finishing touch. Berger put a few nice passes to him , only to have Owen find the keeper , instead of the back of the net. To be fair to Owen though, everyone on the pitch was unlucky in the finishing department....again.

We really folded in the end though...the same mistakes were made tonight as were made in the Newcastle match. For some reason we don't seem to stop pressing forward, even with out backs against the wall.

As an Irishman I was happy to see Clinton do well, but I wishing he would show up next week and not against us. Vassen (mispell) the keeper for the Blues was impressive as well. Also I don't think I have seen so much energy from Robbie Savage in one match in my time watching him...he was the main spark for the City tonight.

We got the point which is nice, but again we should of had 3 points from this one. It's these blown chances for 3 points that will kill us come the end of the season.

[JRedknapp11]

Here's an impartial 3rd party story of the match.....

http://www.soccernet.com/england/2000/20020911/reports/54461_full.html

Some Words from GH himself.....

http://www.ananova.com/sport/soccer/story/sm_668925.html?menu=sport.football.latestheadlines

[paulocesar]

six points lost...really people?? How could Owen, in this form, be the reigning European Player of the Year????

[Matt Clark]

Yeah, coz that's a proven means by which to get a striker back in to form.
:rolleyes:

The reactionary attitude of some fans amazes me. This time last year, we were getting dicked 3-1 by Villa, for Chrissakes. We’d already lost to Bolton. We have dropped silly points this time out, yes. And yes, it is not good enough. But let’s not lose sight of the big picture here - we are trying to progress the style of play and the fluidity and authority with which we take on opponents. In the pursuit of that next stage of our evolution, we will drop silly points. Yesterday, we dropped silly points. Instead of being on 11, level with Arsenal, we are on 9, two adrift of Arsenal. Which is hardly panic stations. And, playing as we are at the moment, we will win far more points than we lose. Once Owen finds his shooting boots, he will be on his way to another 20-25 goal haul and then everyone will be wanking on about how great a striker he is and how you wouldn’t swap him for anyone, yadda yadda.

Owen is playing exceptionally well, bar his finishing touch. His overall play is much improved on last season. It’s not his fault that the team, 2-0 up with half an hour to play, conceded two goals. Nor is our problem a lack of goals in general. We have scored 10 goals in five games. Where they come from is more or less irrelevant.

The blame is, as always, collective, but in this instance the defence is to blame. Morrison’s first was a direct consequence of a woeful back-header by Traore and his second was a nothing header form a nothing cross that should never even have been put in. That’s what happens when you go to sleep - piss poor nobodies like Birmingham City score goals against you.

It happens. But it could be worse and it will get better.

Lest we forget, we could have been losing to Bolton at home instead …