A lacklustre Liverpool had keeper Pepe Reina's to thank for salvaging them a point at St Andrews in a scoreless draw against Birmingham. The Blues have not lost to Liverpool in the league in nine matches and could have been three up at half time but for the keeping of Reina.
The Spaniard produced excellent reflex saves to keep out point-blank headers from Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner as the home side dominated and looked the more impressive of the two teams.
With Barry Ferguson and Gardner controlling the midfield it was left to Reds skipper Steven Gerrard to inject some urgency into the visitor's.
On a rare Liverpool breakaway Fernando Torres, still looking short of match fitness, had a shot saved by Ben Foster and that was as close as the Reds came all afternoon.
Raul Meireles came on to make his debut late on for the Reds but overall this was a fortunate point for Roy Hodgson's side as the home team at least kept up their unbeaten start to the season and extended their unbeaten home run of Premier League matches to 17.
For Hodgson there is still a lot of work to do before Liverpool can even contemplate a top four finish.
Referee: Mark Halsey Assistant referees: Simon Long & Glenn Turner Fourth official: Stuart Atwell
Venue: St Andrews, Birmingham Attendance: 27,333
BIRMINGHAM 26. Ben Foster 2. Stephen Carr 5. Roger Johnson 15. Scott Dann 6. Liam Ridgewell 7. Sebastian Larsson 12. Barry Ferguson 4. Lee Bowyer 8. Craig Gardner (yellow) 16. James McFadden (90) 10. Cameron Jerome
Substitutes 1. Maik Taylor (GK) 3. David Murphy 14. Matt Derbyshire 17. Michel 18. Keith Fahey 19. Nikola Zigic (90) 28. Martin Jiranek
LIVERPOOL 25. Jose Reina 2. Glen Johnson 23. Jamie Carragher 37. Martin Skrtel 3. Paul Konchesky (78) 17. Rodriguez Maxi 28. Christian Poulsen 21. Leiva Lucas (76) 8. Steven Gerrard 14. Milan Jovanovic 9. Fernando Torres
Substitutes 1. Brad Jones (GK) 4. Raul Meireles (76) 5. Daniel Agger (78) 12. Daniel Pacheco 16. Sotirios Kyrgiakos 19. Ryan Babel 24. David Ngog
