---
title: "Birmingham vs Liverpool Player Ratings"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/birmingham-vs-liverpool-player-ratings/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jordan Hoose"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2010-09-14T17:44:32Z"
modified: "2010-09-14T17:44:32Z"
---

# Birmingham vs Liverpool Player Ratings

[![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/250px-pepe_reina-150x150.jpg)](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/250px-pepe_reina.jpg)

Reina put in a Man of the Match performance

If you didn’t watch this game, the scoreline might lead you to believe it was a poor one; neither side, these days at least, exactly have a penchant for playing wonderful football.

It proved to be, however, an enjoyable encounter. The start might have been a little quiet, but it proved to be end to end stuff in certain short bursts. Of the potential debutants, only Liverpool’s Paul Konchesky started, and had a fairly tough time up against Stephen Carr and Sebastian Larsson on Birmingham’s right.

Ultimately, Konchesky was part of a sloppy back four, who had a torrid time against Birmingham’s crosses and set pieces. Skrtel and Carragher were caught out more than a few times in this respect, and only the heroics of Pepe Reina, who put his [midweek international nightmare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfZZq78dnPs) behind him with a couple of excellent saves, saved Liverpool from losing this one.

Ben Foster, conversely, had very little to do up against an out-of-sorts Liverpool attack. Fernando Torres is yet to regain form, and fitness, after a disappointing World Cup, and once more looked a little isolated up front. Steven Gerrard did his best to rally the troops, but was restricted to long range shots that didn’t come off for him on the day.

Birmingham, as might be expected of Alex McLeish’s side, defended very well, but it was their excellent defensive partnership of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann who missed two of their best chances: Johnson firing over from a Barry Ferguson cross, and Dann heading into the ground and over from a free kick.

This, for me, is by no means a bad result for Liverpool. St. Andrews was something of a fortress last season, and it’s a trend that looks set to continue: they’re uneaten in 17 league games at home now. Ordinarily, this would be a result for Birmingham; but given some of the chances they missed, they might’ve hoped for all three points.

**Birmingham City**

**Ben Foster** 6          Did what was required of him

**Stephen Carr** 7          Linked well with Larsson down the right

**Roger Johnson** 6          Solid defensively, but might’ve had a goal

**Scott Dann** 7          Continues an excellent partnership with Johnson

**Liam Ridgewell** 7          Solid, but offers little going forward

**Sebastian Larsson** 7          Excellent crossing, as usual

**Lee Bowyer** 6          A little quiet in midfield

**Barry Ferguson** 7          Decent game

**Craig Gardner** 8          Impressive, battling performance. Foiled by Reina

**James McFadden** 5          Disappointing, very knackered in the second half

**Cameron Jerome** 8          Held the line very well, another Reina victim

Subs:

**Nikola Zigic** (on for McFadden, 90)   6   No time to make an impact

**Liverpool**

**Pepe Reina** 8          A couple of truly wonderful saves

**Glen Johnson** 5          Unusually ineffective going forward

**Paul Konchesky** 6          Tough task on debut, dealt with it well enough

**Jamie Carragher** 6          Struggled with pace of Jerome

**Martin Skrtel** 6          Dealt with aerial threat poorly

**Maxi Rodriguez** 5          Struggled to get into the game

**Milan Jovanovic** 6          Decent, but the ball rarely saw the flanks

**Lucas Leiva** 6          Frustrated after taking a couple of kicks in first half

**Christian Poulsen** 6          Covered for Johnson when he got forward, but a little sloppy

**Steven Gerrard** 7          Tried hard enough, but disappointing by his high standards

**Fernando Torres** 6          Poor, barely in the game

Subs:

**Daniel Agger** (on for Konchesky, 78)    6    Still doesn’t look comfortable at left back

**Raul Meireles** (on for Lucas, 76)    6    Got forward more than might’ve been expected