A string of fine saves from Pepe Reina fought out a good point for Liverpool as they played out a stalemate draw at Birmingham on Sunday afternoon.
Reina, back from an international break in which he made a terrible blunder in Spain’s defeat to Argentina, made great saves from both Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner, in a frustrating game for an under-par Reds team.
There was a debut for Paul Konchesky at left-back, who picked up an injury in the second half and was replaced by Daniel Agger.
Raul Meireles also made a late appearance, coming on for Lucas – who was partnered by Christian Poulsen – in midfield.
It was a game of little chances for the Reds and an uninspiring performance with Roy Hodgson’s men now having taken just five points from their opening four Premier League games and sitting a lowly 13th in the table.
Liverpool now turn their attentions to the Europa League and the visit of Steaua Bucure?ti on Thursday night, before Sunday’s visit to Manchester Utd.
Full report from BBC Sport
Liverpool had keeper Pepe Reina’s heroics to thank for salvaging them a point against Birmingham.
Reina pulled off superb reaction saves to keep out firm headers from Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner as the Reds struggled to cope with the home side.
Fernando Torres had an angled shot blocked by Blues keeper Ben Foster in a rare chance for the visitors.
The Reds were more dangerous when Raul Meireles came on to make his debut late on but were fortunate to get a point.
The extent of Birmingham’s dominance will have them regretting having to settle for a draw, albeit one that extends their unbeaten home run of Premier League matches to 17.
A lethargic and lacklustre Liverpool side will, in contrast, breathe a sigh of relief at a hard earned point that came courtesy mainly of Reina.
Birmingham finished an impressive ninth last season and the qualities behind their achievement were firmly on display on Sunday.
Manager Alex McLeish has built a committed team who press the opposition high up the pitch in a controlled and disciplined manner, while they make sure they remain a secure defensive unit.
Their work ethic and determination can overwhelm the opposition and that would have been the case for Liverpool had it not been for Reina.
The keeper was at fault when he allowed Arsenal a late equaliser in Liverpool’s opening game of the season and he made an embarrassing mistake in Spain’s midweek 4-1 defeat in Argentina on a rare international outing.
But, after Torres horribly mistimed a shot from Glen Johnson’s low cross early on, the Spaniard proved Birmingham’s nemesis with the type of saves with which he is more normally associated.
He dived low to his right and scooped away a powerful Jerome header from Lee Bowyer’s pinpoint cross as the home side began to take a grip of the game.
The Reds keeper was again his side’s saviour when he punched the ball off Jerome’s head as the Blues striker seemed set to get on the end of a Sebastian Larsson cross, before producing another eye-catching save.
Blues midfielder Gardner ran unmarked on to the end of a whipped-in Stephen Carr cross and directed a firm downward header which Reina somehow got a hand to.
Liverpool looked devoid of ideas and desire, although Birmingham were failing to make their superiority count with Scott Dann seeing a free header bounce over as the Midlands side spurned another chance.
The Reds eventually rose from their stupor and Gerrard played in Torres, who chose to shoot from an acute angle instead of crossing for his team-mate and saw his shot turned away by keeper Ben Foster.
At the other end, a backtracking Jerome put another header wide and, while Liverpool looked more threatening when debutant Meireles came on and Gerrard was pushed back into central midfield, they showed manager Roy Hodgson has plenty of work to do to improve their fortunes.
Victory may have eluded Birmingham but they kept up their unbeaten start to the season and have now not lost to Liverpool in the league in nine matches.
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