EPL Post Match Report: Birmingham City 2 VS Liverpool 2

Hello to all MyRAWKites everywhere! Last weekend was one exciting game to watch! I can't imagine what most of you were feeling at that time. And what about Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch? I can't figure out whose the better player but I would reckon that JP definitely earned Rafa's faith in him. Anyhow, below is something we scrappred up as our regular writing guy is not around this week. However, you can always view the match and goal highglihts for your watching pleasure!

Cheers and YNWA!
MyRAWK Admin


Liverpool’s B string ensured Rafa Benitez’s top dogs will be in the Champions League next season after a dramatic fight back against fast-fading Birmingham.

Trailing 2-0 with just 27 minutes left, Rafa’s barely-recognisable Liverpool – none of his big hitters featured – looked dead and buried.

But that was before Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun intervened to earn the Merseysiders the point that guarantees them fourth place and Champions League qualification.

In stark contrast, Birmingham are now facing the prospect of dropping straight back into the Championship. This result does nothing for their already-slim survival chances.

If chucking away a two-goal lead was not painful enough, news that Fulham, who they meet next week, won in the last minute was a crushing blow for 18th-place City.

Both managers rang the changes big time, for very different reasons. Benitez fielded nine new faces from the team held by Chelsea in the Champions League last week, with his focus clearly on the second leg of their all-English semi-final.

While the Blues’ relegation rivals may not agree, at least rotating Rafa was being consistent in respect of the dogfight. This line-up was almost identical to that which swept aside Fulham seven days earlier.

Blues boss Alex McLeish probably wished he could have axed a similar amount after his side’s 5-1 thumping at Villa Park. But the depth of his squad does not allow such shuffles.

Gary McSheffrey, Mauro Zarate and Cameron Jerome were dumped, though, for Olivier Kapo, Seb Larsson and top scorer Mikael Forssell. And McLeish’s selections had the greater impact – in the opening half at least.

Maybe Liverpool’s fringe players knew that whatever they did here they were not going to get a look in at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

For, unlike at Fulham, they were off the pace and seemingly already thinking of their hols. That handed Birmingham the chance to take a grip in midfield and gain momentum.

Forssell was the first to give notice of the home side’s threat when, in the 20th minute, he did brilliantly, firstly controlling a bouncing ball and then hooking a volley at Pepe Reina.

Ten minutes before the break, the Finnish striker fired the Blues ahead. Fabrice Muamba’s crunching tackle on Lucas sparked the attack, James McFadden’s cross evaded the Reds’ defence, and Forssell chested it down to slam in his ninth of the season.

At 1-0, there was never any chance of anybody at St Andrews thinking job done. Birmingham’s rearguard is too fragile, hence the sigh of relief from home fans in the 55th minute.

When McFadden was clattered 25 yards out, Larsson stepped up to curl the free-kick into the top corner.

If anyone doubted how significant a strike that was, Crouch soon put them right by reducing the deficit within eight minutes. Jermaine Pennant’s centre found the England ace, who drilled one past Maik Taylor. Now it was all Liverpool.

An equaliser was inevitable and arrived with 14 minutes left as Lucas, in acres of space, crossed for little Benayoun to head in via a deflection.

Benitez said afterwards: “Hopefully we can now progress in this year’s Champions League and if we get there focus on the final. Fourth place was always the minimum for us. I was very happy with the second half. To change so many players and still create a lot of chances was very
satisfying.”

Blues boss McLeish moaned: “I’m very disappointed. Before the game I’d have taken a draw but having gone 2-0 up, you think it’s sewn up.

“But it’s still a point and one which could keep us in the Premier League.”

Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell (Queudrue 77), Murphy, Larsson, Muamba, Nafti, Kapo (McSheffrey 77), Forssell (Zarate 87), McFadden.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Jerome.

Booked: Murphy, Nafti.

Goals: Forssell 34, Larsson 55.

Reds: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise (Insua 64), Pennant, Plessis, Lucas, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher.
Booked: Voronin.
Goals: Crouch 63, Benayoun 76.

Att: 29,252

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Man-of-the-Match: Jermaine Pennant

Match & Goal Highlights: Birmingham City vs Liverpool FC