Match Report


LiverpoolLiverpool     Birmingham CityBirmingham City
Kevin MurphyKevin Murphy Andrew Blight Andrew Blight
Harry KirklandH. Kirkland56
G
1
G
61Bart GrotB. Grot
Jason McgovernJ. Mcgovern66
D
2
D
56Simon LampardS. Lampard
Paul VernazzaP. Vernazza63
D
3
D
60Kemal WilcoxK. Wilcox
Francis BrightonF. Brighton68
D
4
D
60Frank MelchiotF. Melchiot
Harvey CarragherH. Carragher67
M
5captain
D
66Atam HillA. Hill
Stuart SullivanS. Sullivan57
M
6
M
66Rafael MartinezR. Martinez
Pegguy PardeilhanP. Pardeilhan62
M
7
M
62Andy McNeillA. McNeill
Gary McleodG. Mcleod67
M
captain8
M
61Joe VonkJ. Vonk
Rodrigo NevesR. Neves56
A
9
A
63Robert BrightonR. Brighton
Kelvin CarragherK. Carragher69
A
10
A
70Angelo RivaltaA. Rivalta
Michel De GierM. De Gier61
A
11
A
64Cristiano BarbosaC. Barbosa
 
Peter EustaceP. Eustace58
A
12
D
58Trevor GascoigneT. Gascoigne
Francisco AriasF. Arias61
M
13
M
58Franco CristalliniF. Cristallini
Stanley GallagherS. Gallagher60
D
14
A
45Said BrugginkS. Bruggink

Boots Direct
today's match is sponsored by Boots Direct
Match Report
A few clouds cover the sky here at Anfield where Liverpool play host to Birmingham City. A crowd of 18,691 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Liverpool are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Birmingham City appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Harry Thompson.


0.00
Liverpool start the match!
2.39
Rafael Martinez catches Pegguy Pardeilhan on the ankles. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Pegguy Pardeilhan stretches but gets up unharmed.
9.52
Joe Vonk kicks a strong pass forward to Robert Brighton. Robert Brighton sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it flies just off target!
20.26
Frank Melchiot catches Stuart Sullivan on the ankles. Frank Melchiot is shown the yellow card! Stuart Sullivan runs off the knock.
21.42
Rafael Martinez flicks a high pass forward. Cristiano Barbosa controls it well on his chest. Cristiano Barbosa knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Francis Brighton.
24.21
Frank Melchiot flicks the ball to his team mate, Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa whips in a cross ball towards Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta directs the ball goalwards with his head. Harry Kirkland is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
27.30
Frank Melchiot makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill knocks the ball to his team mate, Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa cuts inside the box! Cristiano Barbosa cuts inside onto his preferred left foot and rushes a shot at goal but is denied by Harry Kirkland. Excellent save.
28.39
Andy McNeill catches Pegguy Pardeilhan on the ankles. The referee warns Andy McNeill to calm down! Pegguy Pardeilhan gets up, but that knock is affecting his game.
30.02
Kelvin Carragher makes a probing pass to Gary Mcleod. Gary Mcleod plays a one-two with Rodrigo Neves and advances towards the goal... Gary Mcleod shoots from just inside the box but is denied by Bart Grot. Excellent save.
33.40
Gary Mcleod flicks the ball to his team mate, Michel De Gier. Michel De Gier plays a one-two with Pegguy Pardeilhan and rushes in on goal... Michel De Gier looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. The ball comes in low, but it is blocked by Simon Lampard.
36.27
Frank Melchiot flicks the ball to his team mate, Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill kicks a strong pass forward to Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa lofts in a cross ball towards Rafael Martinez. Rafael Martinez flicks the ball with his head but it is tipped over by Harry Kirkland.
37.36
Corner kick to Birmingham City. Angelo Rivalta plays it out to the edge of the box. Frank Melchiot shows great control and tries a shot on goal but it flies just off target!
38.28
Pegguy Pardeilhan makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Michel De Gier. Michel De Gier makes a defence splitting pass to Kelvin Carragher. Kelvin Carragher takes a shot at goal. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Nice keeping!
39.51
Frank Melchiot passes the ball forward to Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill threads a neat ball through to Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta lofts in a cross ball towards Robert Brighton. Robert Brighton jumps high and flicks the ball with his head but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
45.00
Andy McNeill flicks a high ball forward to Robert Brighton who gracefully takes it down. Robert Brighton plays a quick one-two with Angelo Rivalta and rushes in on goal... Robert Brighton shoots from just inside the box his aim is horrendously poor!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Liverpool appear unchanged since the first half. Birmingham City also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
The whistle blows and Birmingham City get the second half underway!
47.28
Joe Vonk knocks the ball to his team mate, Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta lofts in a cross ball towards Robert Brighton. Robert Brighton gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. Harry Kirkland manages to gather it.
48.39
Paul Vernazza flicks a high ball forward to Pegguy Pardeilhan who gracefully takes it down. Pegguy Pardeilhan flicks the ball to his team mate, Kelvin Carragher. Kelvin Carragher controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
49.51
Paul Vernazza flicks a high ball forward to Stuart Sullivan who takes it down. With some swift thinking, Stuart Sullivan plays the ball forward to Rodrigo Neves. Rodrigo Neves advances inside the box! Rodrigo Neves takes a shot at goal. It's there!! Bart Grot has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
54.23
Harvey Carragher flicks a high ball forward to Gary Mcleod who takes it down. Gary Mcleod plays a scrappy one-two with Rodrigo Neves and stumbles forward towards the goal... Some superb footwork from Gary Mcleod provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal but Bart Grot reads it well. Great keeping!
55.19
Joe Vonk flicks a high pass forward to Rafael Martinez who brings the ball under control. Rafael Martinez threads a neat ball through to Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta shoots from long range but it curls horrendously wide!
57.08
Paul Vernazza flicks the ball to his team mate, Pegguy Pardeilhan. Pegguy Pardeilhan makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Stuart Sullivan. Stuart Sullivan knocks in a cross ball towards Michel De Gier. Frank Melchiot catches Michel De Gier on the ankles. That's got to be a penalty! No, the ref waves play-on!!
60.59
Liverpool have made a substitution with Peter Eustace replacing Michel De Gier .Birmingham City have made a substitution with Trevor Gascoigne replacing Atam Hill .
72.56
Paul Vernazza barges into Angelo Rivalta. The referee calls over Paul Vernazza and shows him a yellow card! Angelo Rivalta carries on, but is struggling a bit.
77.44
Birmingham City have made 2 substitutions with Franco Cristallini replacing Rafael Martinez and Said Bruggink replacing Angelo Rivalta .
79.08
Franco Cristallini flicks a high pass forward. Said Bruggink easily holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Said Bruggink makes a great pass forward. Cristiano Barbosa runs clear and latches on but the linesman indicates offside!
81.27
Trevor Gascoigne clumsily knocks into Rodrigo Neves. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Rodrigo Neves runs off the knock.
87.53
Kemal Wilcox makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Joe Vonk whips in a cross ball towards Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa makes a looping header on goal but is denied by Harry Kirkland. Excellent save.
90.00
Pegguy Pardeilhan clumsily knocks into Andy McNeill. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Andy McNeill carries on, but is struggling a bit.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Liverpool

Birmingham City
Goals
1
1
Shots on Target
5
5
Shots off Target
1
5
Offsides
0
2
Fouls
2
4
Yellow Cards
2
3
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
48.8%
51.2%
Play Area
27.5%
46.2%
26.2%

Scorers
Rodrigo Neves 50
Angelo Rivalta 24

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Rodrigo Neves of Liverpool

Match Ratings
1.Harry Kirkland (GK)
8
2.Jason Mcgovern (DEF)
6
3.Paul Vernazza (DEF)yellow card
6
4.Francis Brighton (DEF)
6
5.Harvey Carragher (MID)
7
6.Stuart Sullivan (MID)
7
7.Pegguy Pardeilhan (MID)yellow card
7
8.Gary Mcleod (MID)
7
9.Rodrigo Neves (ATT)goal scored
9
10.Kelvin Carragher (ATT)
6
11.Michel De Gier (ATT)
7
 
12.Peter Eustace (ATT)
6
13.Francisco Arias (MID)
0
14.Stanley Gallagher (DEF)
0

1.Bart Grot (GK)
7
2.Simon Lampard (DEF)
6
3.Kemal Wilcox (DEF)
6
4.Frank Melchiot (DEF)yellow card
6
5.Atam Hill (DEF)
6
6.Rafael Martinez (MID)yellow card
6
7.Andy McNeill (MID)
7
8.Joe Vonk (MID)
7
9.Robert Brighton (ATT)
6
10.Angelo Rivalta (ATT)goal scored
9
11.Cristiano Barbosa (ATT)
8
 
12.Trevor Gascoigne (DEF)yellow card
5
13.Franco Cristallini (MID)
6
14.Said Bruggink (ATT)
6