LIVERPOOL VS BIRMINGHAM LATEST BETTING TIPS

After United dropped three valuable points at Chelsea courtesy of 12th man Martin Atkinson, Liverpool are looking to make up some space on their rivals by doing the business over Birmingham City today. Blue Square lists the Reds as very strong favourites for this fixture and they command a 1/3 outright price against Alex McLeigh's side and their lengthy 10/1 odds. The draw pays out at 7/2 and while it's very clear that this is Liverpool's match to lose, does Eck McLeish have a shot at pulling off a surprise victory?
Well, no really, but Liverpool have been guilty of a few famous cock-ups over the past while and this one would really go down as one of the worst, but definitely not the worst overall.
I see this as a 2-3 goal game and who scores first will really alter the pacing and style of play here. Birmingham's best shot is to notch an early goal and then try to defend the living hell out of it and maybe pip 'Pool on the break.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard's fitness is a major factor here and Liverpool's two talismans will both face late fitness tests. The whispers are indicating that if one of them is to play, it will likely be Torres. Many of us are expecting Torres to go under the knife here soon and he really won't want to delay it much longer with the World Cup looming, a mere eight months on the horizon.
Jamie Carragher is suspended for this fixture and Glen Johnson is out with a calf injury. If they are shorn of T & G, then I think we'll see a real makeshift Liverpool side- but one that will definitely give Alberto Aquiliani the opportunity to express himself. He is 4/1 to score anytime while Torres is odds-on at 4/5. Gerrard pays out at 11/10 while Dirk Kuyt is listed at 11/8. Yossi Benayoun is a true goal-threat these days and he is carrying a 7/4 price. Ryan Babel may see some action and he is carrying odds of 2/1.
Birmingham are expected to turn to Christian Benitez and Kevin Phillips for goals here and they are at 3/1 and 11/2, respectively. Cameron Jerome carries a 4/1 price alongside Gary O'Connor. Liam Ridgewell is listed at 14/1 anytime.