Apart from the last 20 minutes of the first half, this was a pain to watch once again. Liverpool were all over the place and nowhere at the same time.
Scott Dann, Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell did well to frustrate the hell out of Fernando Torres who was made unscheinbar and abwesend by their coordinated work and cover.
The Spanish striker just looked out of place, like he didn't want to be there. In contrast, the only player who seemed to be present and making an effort of the game, looking omni-present nearly was Pepe Reina.
He produced three top-notch saves that looked impossible to stop, like the shots had already passed him and he beemed them back out, denying Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner.
The second half continued in the same trend. Liverpool could have been three or four goals down if it were not for their Spanish keeper - who had a nightmare international friendly outing midweek, 4-1 against Argentina - from zero back to hero.
Roy Hodgson tried to defend Torres and to look onto the positive side after yet another subdued performance.
Alex McLeish was left a happy but a bit frustrated/ruing man and rightly so - Birmingham showed a good, strong performance which deserved more out of the match but lacked the cutting edge to take advantage, score and bank all three points.
Birmingham are now 17 Premier League games unbeaten at home (12 months) whilst things will get evrything else but easier and better for Liverpool with a trip to Old Trafford up next in the Premier League after their Europa League encounter against Steaua Bucharest midweek - Liverpool looking everything else but strong competitors with only two goals in their opening four league games this season.
We will see if Hodgson's hopes and optimism will pay off or whether he'll have to dream on and eat his words...
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky (Agger 78); Maxi, Lucas (Meireles 76), Poulsen, Jovanovic; Gerrard; Torres. 4-4-1-1 Subs not used: Jones, Kyrgiakos, Pacheco, Babel, Ngog.
Birmingham: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgwell; Bowyer, Gardner (booked 29), Ferguson, Larsson; Jerome; McFadden (Zigic 90). 4-4-1-1 Subs not used: Taylor, Murphy, Jiranek, Marcos Madera, Fahey, Derbyshire.
BBC stats:
Birmingham-Liverpool
Attempts: 15-14
On target: 3-8
Corners: 4-3
Free kicks: 9-8
Possession: 53%-47%
Sky Stats:
Birmingham-Liverpool
Attempts: 15-10
On target: 2-3 Offsides: 2-1
Corners: 4-3
Free kicks: 9-8
Possession: 44.3%-55.7%
Passing Success: 70.9%-78.2%
Tackles/Success: 22/63.6%-12/83.3%
Territorial Advantage: 50.3%-49.7%
Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the match: Pepe Reina
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