Liverpool Vs Birmingham City Betting – Monday 9th November

Liverpool Vs Birmingham City

Monday 9^th November – 20:00 GMT

ESPN (TV Coverage)

Liverpool

League Position: 6^th

Recent League Form: WLLWL

Where do we even start with Liverpool. A disastrous weekend paved the wave for a catastrophic midweek after Liverpool all but threw away their chances of winning the main two competitions they were competing in for the season. Their humiliating defeat at Fulham on Saturday, losing 3-1, leaves them trailing Chelsea at the top by nine pints while it got even worse in midweek as they drew 1-1 in France against Lyon, a result which leaves their qualifying bid from the group hanging by a thread, a very slim one at that.

This has been arguably Liverpool’s worst ever start to a Premiership season combined with probably their worst run in the Champions League for quite some time. The two results together can only make for one demoralised dressing room at Anfield and it really is hard, despite the quality of the manager at the helm, to see the Liverpool players recover in time, mentally, for this game with a solid Birmingham City, a side who have frustrated the Reds’ at Anfield in their previous three visits.

Liverpool have now lost six of their last eight games in all competitions and have lost three of their last four games in the league. However, it’s worth noting that all three were on the road, which is no excuse for side such as Liverpool, but as far as their chances in this game go, providing the do recover, are very high. Rafael Benitez’s side have won their last three league encounters at Anfield; victories over Burnley (4-0), Hull City (6-1) & Manchester United (2-1). The latter should have been the stepping ladder to bigger and better things but, as of yet, Liverpool have failed to use the United platform to their advantage.

It really is difficult to weigh up how Liverpool will fare despite the obvious gulf in class between the two. Steven Gerrard is almost certain to miss this clash after he didn’t he travel with the squad on Wednesday. Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio both look very unlikely, while Alberto Aquilani didn’t even get a run out in midweek so he’s still lacks match fitness. We haven’t the club in such a state for some time and when on another day Liverpool would be comfortable favourites to win here, on Saturday they may well be a lot bigger in price then many anticipate.

Birmingham City

League Position: 14^th

Recent League Form: LLLWD

Alex McLeish will be pleased with his sides work ethic last weekend but he will expect an even bigger shift this Saturday as he prepares his squad for the trip up North to Liverpool, a team which could either be seen as a wounded animal of one that are there for the taken. Birmingham fans – you decide which!

Many would see a draw with Man City, the richest club in the world, as a fine result, especially for a club like Birmingham. However, that wasn’t the case on Sunday as Birmingham fully deserved all three points and probably should have gotten them were it not for some goalkeeping heroics from Shay Given in the Man City goal. Birmingham wasted no time racing up the gears as they stormed out of the blocks and certainly rattled their match day opponents. They were pacey on the break, shown no fear going forward and actually looked a real threat whenever they got near the City goal. 

Christian Benitez, or Chuco as he’s now known to the fans, was sublime against Man City. His sheer pace was a sight to behold but his ability to go past a player and hand craft a goalscor8ing chance was something i haven’t seen in an individual for some time. It’s a compliment to Alex McLeish that he’s purchased such a world-class player and he’ll be a big threat to Liverpool’s shaky defence on Saturday, although, he has yet to register his first league goal for Birmingham.

Birmingham on the road have been a poor outfit. They did manage to beat Hull City, 1-0, midway through September but with the exception of that result, they’ve been dire. They’ve lost four out of five and are on a two match away losing streak after defeats at both Burnley (2-1) & Arsenal (3-1). The positives are that Birmingham did manage to score in both and that they’ve actually found the new in their last four away outings in the league so there is room for small ounces of optimism.

Head-to-Head:

Liverpool W: 2 Birmingham City W: 3 Draws: 5

Arguably the most surprising Head-to-Head record you’ll see between any two sides this weekend. Not many teams in the country can boast that they hold all the aces over Liverpool FC but Birmingham are an exception to the rule. Birmingham’s solid approach whenever they visit Anfiled has frustrated the Reds and the travellers have escaped with a point or more in their previous three visits to Anfield, drawing two and winning the other, 0-1. It’s been two seasons since the pair last met but it finished all square then in a 0-0 draw, while two seasons before that seen Birmingham take home another point. However, although their ecord at fortress Anfield is sublime, they did have a Wiley Steve Bruce at the helm back then, something they cannot boast this time around. Does Alex McLeish have the knowledge and nohow to keep the Liverpool voodoo alive?

The previous three meetings at Anfield have all finished in low scoring affairs, dull ones at that. 0-0, 1-1 & 0-1. No doubt Birmingham will set up to frustrate the Liverpool attackers once again so perhaps a wee bet on Unders in this game is the smartest approach.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.36 Bet365

The Liverpool dressing maybe a deflated one but we still expect Liverpool to end up the winners in this contest. Birmingham will set out to frustrate Liverpool, like they always do when they travel to Anfield, sticking plenty of men behind the ball and looking to hit the home side on the break. Predicting who will actually start for Liverpool is a gamble in itself but, despite the criticism over the lack of strength in depth, w expect even a makeshift side to get the better of Birmingham City on home soil.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.36 Bet365

Draw – 5.00 SkyBet

Birmingham City – 11.00 BlueSquare